ASTRA 2B Satellite at 28.2° East – Operated by SES

ASTRA 2B is a geostationary communications satellite owned and operated by SES, a global leader in satellite communications based in Luxembourg. Launched in September 2000, ASTRA 2B was initially positioned at 28.2° East to join ASTRA 2A, supporting digital TV and radio broadcast services primarily for the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Over its operational lifetime, ASTRA 2B has also served at 19.2° East and 31.5° East, providing flexible and valuable in-orbit capacity for SES’s European and international customers.

Coverage and Broadcast Capabilities

ASTRA 2B was equipped with two powerful Ku-band broadcast beams, each supporting both horizontal and vertical polarization. These beams served two main footprints:

• 2B North: Covering Central Europe and Scandinavia

• 2B South: Covering Central Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, and the Canary Islands

At 28.2° East, viewers across the British Isles could receive broadcast signals with as little as a 43 cm dish, although a 60 cm dish was recommended for fringe reception areas or in newer footprint guidelines.

ASTRA 2B supported 17 transponders that were primarily leased by BSkyB for its Sky Digital service, delivering standard and high-definition television (HDTV) and digital radio.

Additionally, ASTRA 2B featured a third steerable beam, offering 8 transponders in the 12.50–12.75 GHz range, targeted for telecommunications and Internet services in West Africa. This capacity was commercially managed by SES New Skies, now fully integrated into SES.

Orbital History and Fleet Movements

• 2000: Launched to 28.2° East to support UK and Ireland broadcasts.

• 2013: Relocated to 19.2° East following the launch of ASTRA 2F.

• 2014: Temporarily positioned at 31.5° East to await ASTRA 5B.

• 2016: Returned to 19.2° East.

• 2017: Moved to 20° West to operate alongside NSS-7.

• 2018: Returned to 19.2° East.

• 2021: Declared non-operational, began westward drift at approximately 4.9° per day.

About SES – The Satellite Operator Behind ASTRA

SES (Société Européenne des Satellites) is one of the world’s premier satellite operators, headquartered in Luxembourg. The company operates the ASTRA and O3b satellite fleets, providing a wide range of services including TV broadcasting, broadband connectivity, and government and enterprise communication solutions. SES plays a pivotal role in connecting underserved regions and powering digital content delivery across Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific.