In June 2009 satellite operator Intelsat ordered the Intelsat-19 and Intelsat-20 satellites with Space Systems/Loral (SS/L). The satellites will be based on SS/L’s SL-1300 platform and are designed to provide service for at least 18 years. The two satellites will be among the most powerful FSS satellites ever built with unprecedented capacity to provide services for broadband, video, and voice applications. Intelsat-19 and Intelsat-20 will replace existing satellites that currently provide services to five continents and will offer services for broadcast television and telecommunications. The satellites also will have the capacity to support mobile communications and higher data rate network services.

Intelsat-20 was the 37^th satellite that SS/L provided to Intelsat and would replace the Intelsat-7 and Intelsat-10 satellites, which are co-located at 69° East longitude. The new satellite’s C- and Ku-band payload is optimized for high-power distribution of video, voice and data network services.

Intelsat-20 satellite was successfully launched in a dual launch with HYLAS-2 for satellite operator Avanti, on August 2^nd, 2012 on an Ariane 5ECA rocket booster operated by launch operator Arianespace from the Kourou Space Port in French Guyana.