Eutelsat W1 (Eutelsat 4A / Eurobird 4A): Communications Satellite Overview

Originally ordered as Orion 2 by Orion Network Systems, the satellite contract was later canceled. The partially completed satellite was then acquired by Eutelsat as a spare and temporarily renamed RESSAT. Eutelsat repurposed it as Eutelsat W1, designed to be compatible with the company’s earlier W-series satellites, Eutelsat W2 and Eutelsat W3.

Eutelsat launched the satellite in September 2000 to enhance its orbital fleet and extend service coverage. Positioned at 10° East, Eutelsat W1 supports a wide range of services, including:

• Business communications

• Television broadcasting

• Internet-based applications

Coverage and Capacity
The satellite is equipped with 28 Ku-band transponders, divided as follows:

• 20 fixed widebeam transponders covering Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia

• 8 steerable spotbeam transponders for targeted service in new and emerging markets, including Southern Africa

These beams can operate independently or simultaneously, allowing flexible service delivery across regions.

Manufacturing and Platform
The satellite was built by Astrium (now part of Airbus Defence and Space), which served as the prime contractor. It is based on the Eurostar 2000+ platform, part of the proven Eurostar satellite series known for reliability and performance.

Rebranding to Eutelsat 4A
In December 2011, Eutelsat Communications announced a company-wide rebranding of its satellite fleet. As part of this initiative, Eutelsat W1 was renamed Eutelsat 4A, effective March 2012, aligning with the operator’s unified naming convention.