SES ASTRA has announced that it has moved its ASTRA 1G satellite from 19.2 degrees East to 23.5 degrees East, where it joined ASTRA 3A and ASTRA 1E to serve Central Europe, the Benelux countries and German cable networks, as well as offering the high-speed broadband service ASTRA2Connect.

The move follows the successful deployment of SES ASTRA's new satellite ASTRA 1M which replaces ASTRA 1G at 19.2 degrees East.

ASTRA 1G adds 19 transponders to 23.5 degrees East increasing the number of available transponders on this orbital position to 56. Over the past years, SES ASTRA has successfully developed 23.5 degrees East into a new prime orbital position for Direct-to-Home (DTH) and broadband services in particular for Benelux, Czech Republic and Slovakia, which have generated strong demand on this orbital position.

By the end of the year, the orbital position at 23.5 degrees East will be further strengthened by the launch of ASTRA 3B. The satellite which is currently being built by EADS ASTRIUM in Toulouse is a state-of-the-art spacecraft with 52 transponders designed for the distribution of both Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcast services and two-way broadband services across Europe.

ASTRA 3B will provide more flexibility to 23.5 degrees East. Over time, the satellite will replace all existing capacity on 23.5 degrees East thereby securing capacity on this orbital position for at least fifteen years.

Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA, said: "The continuous gain in reach on 23.5 degrees East demonstrates how SES ASTRA has successfully entered into new markets. With the move of ASTRA 1G and the launch of ASTRA 3B later this year we further strengthen this orbital position to serve the growing demand for high quality digital and High Definition broadcasting from the very dynamic Central and Eastern European and Benelux markets and offer additional capacity to the satellite broadband markets."