Gazprom Space Systems launches new TV platform at the 55° East orbital position

Gazprom Space Systems switched on the carrier in transponder А7 of  ASTRA 1F satellite, which is located at the 55° East orbital position, to arrange TV and radio packages broadcast on the European part of the Russian Federation, the Urals and the Western Siberia.

Thus TV broadcasting in Russia from the new orbital position on the geostationary orbit was started.

As the first step the TV channel of positive entertainment Raz TV is broadcasting in test mode.

Progressively as testing broadcasting links and performing technological adjustment of the receiving networks the number of TV programs in this package will be increasing.

The package is uplinked on the satellite from new modern Telecommunication Center of Gazprom Space Systems in Schelkovo. For this purpose a 9 meters Ku-band antenna is used.

After the launch of the new Yamal-402 satellite having a wider coverage zone (broadcasting time zones from -3 to +4) and the lifetime of 15 years to the 55° East orbital position at the end of 2012 TV/radio broadcasting services will be smoothly moved from ASTRA 1F satellite to Yamal-402 satellite.

For reference:

Parameters of ASTRA 1F TV signal receipt:
Transponder / Satellite - А7
Rx frequency - 11302.75 MHz
Symbol rate - 19.26 Msymb/s
Rx polarization - Linear Horizontal
Modulation / FEC - QPSK / 3/4 + R/S