Spacecom eyes Latin America for future satellite launch

Israel-based Spacecom, the operator of the Amos satellite fleet, is considering covering Latin America for the first time with its next satellite launch – after Amos-6 goes up in 2015.

Speaking to DTVE at IBC, Amit Karni, Spacecom’s VP of sales for Central Europe, said that moving into Latin America would be a “really natural” move for Spacecom as it has a history in focusing on emerging, not developed markets.

“Amos-6 is not targeting Latin America, but we do have plans for further new satellites and South America is under consideration for sure,” he said.

Though Spacecom is yet to finalise its plans, Karni said that based on a two-to-three year time-frame for a new satellite to go live – from decision to launch – the next Amos satellite could be activated around 2016.

Amos-6, which was first announced last year, is scheduled to launch at the end of 2015 and will eventually replace the currently in orbit Amos-2. Amos-6 will provide Ku-band beams with pan-European and Middle East coverage and a Ka-band beam for broadband services with coverage in Africa and Europe.