THE HOT BIRD SATELLITE SYSTEM

Organisation européenne de télécommunications par satellite European Telecommunications Satellite Organization 70, rue Balard 75502 PARIS Cedex 15 France Technical Guide ANNEX A THE HOT BIRD SATELLITE SYSTEM June 7, 1999 This document is provided for information purposes. Whilst every effort has been made to provide accurate information, no responsibility is taken for errors or omissions. EUTELSAT reserves the right to change this information without notice.

CONTENTS 1. Introduction................................................. 1 2. The Satellites................................................. 1 3. Frequency Plan............................................... 2 4. Satellite coverages............................................. 6 5. Azimuth, Elevation and Polarisation Angles....................... 7 6. Contact Details.............................................. 16 page II June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guidestdm.fm

1. Introduction EUTELSAT entertainment TV services are concentrated at the geostationary orbital location of 13 East. Services are provided by means of similar satellites collocated at this position, which are referred to as the HOT BIRD " satellites 1. This annex contains a summary of those technical characteristics of the HOT BIRD satellites that are relevant for reception of FM and digital television, audio and data services from the 13 East orbital position. Additional technical information concerning existing and planned EUTELSAT satellites at other orbital positions can be found in the EUTELSAT Satellite Handbook, copies of which are available on request. 2. The Satellites The principal technical characteristics of the HOT BIRD satellites are given in Table 1. There are five operational HOT BIRD spacecraft at the 13 East orbital location. They are collocated sufficiently close together to be indistinguishable to a ground terminal equipped with a small (e.g. 60 cm) receive antenna. Satellite No. of Active Transponders Transponder Bandwidths (MHz) Operating Frequency Band(s) a HOT BIRD 1 16 36 11.20-11.55 GHz HOT BIRD 2 20 33 11.70-12.10 GHz HOT BIRD 3 20 33, 49.5 12.10-12.50 GHz HOT BIRD 4 20 33, 36, 46.5 10.70-10.97 GHz 12.60-12.75 GHz HOT BIRD 5 22 33, 36, 72 10.95-11.22 GHz 11.55-11.70 GHz 12.50-12.62 GHz Table 1: The HOT BIRD satellites located at 13 degrees East a. Under nominal operating conditions 1. HOT BIRD is a trade mark of EUTELSAT. page A1 June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guides.fm

Frequency re-use is achieved through the use of two linear orthogonal polarisations, which are denoted X and Y. In most receive locations the states X and Y correspond approximately to the local horizontal and vertical planes respectively. The HOT BIRD 1 satellite provides a total of 16 operational transponders, each with a bandwidth of 36 MHz. The HOT BIRD 2, HOT BIRD 3, HOT BIRD 4 and HOT BIRD 5 satellites each provide a total of 20 operational transponders over their lifetime. HOT BIRD 5 can operate a further two transponders in the first few years of satellite operation. Most of these transponders have a usable bandwidth of 33 MHz, although there are also a number of higher bandwidth (mainly 36 MHz) channels. The five HOT BIRD satellites together provide a total of 98 active transponders, utilising the whole of the 10.70-12.75 GHz downlink frequency band. Some of these transponders are assigned to traditional FM TV and other analogue services, while others carry digital TV and radio transmissions. All of the HOT BIRD satellites except HOT BIRD 1 carry backup transponders that can be used to replace operational transponders on other HOT BIRD satellites in the unlikely event of an in-orbit failure. These transponders are not normally used and are therefore not explicitly described in this annex. 3. Frequency Plan The downlink frequency plan of the HOT BIRD satellite system is illustrated in Figure 1, page 8. Table 2 gives the centre frequency, the downlink polarisation and the nominal (approximately -1 db) bandwidth for each transponder in tabular form. It also identifies the satellite that supports transponder operation under nominal operating conditions. The transponders are listed in ascending order of downlink centre frequency. The system comprises mainly narrowband satellite transponders, with a nominal bandwidth of either 33 MHz or 36 MHz. Such transponders would normally accommodate a single analogue or digital TV carrier. page A2 June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guides.fm

Four wideband satellite transponders are also provided. Two of these have a nominal bandwidth of 72 MHz, one has a nominal bandwidth of 46.5 MHz and one has a nominal bandwidth of 49.5 MHz. These wideband transponders can accommodate one analogue or digital TV carrier as well as additional carriers. The nominal channel spacing for two adjacent co-polar narrowband channels is 38.36 MHz for 33 MHz transponders and 41.5 MHz for 36 MHz transponders. The nominal channel spacing for two adjacent cross-polar narrowband channels is one half of the co-polar channel spacing. The channel spacing for two adjacent 72 MHz wideband co-polar transponders is 83.33 MHz. These values are adjusted in certain instances, notably at the edges of the satellite operating frequency bands. Transponder 110 on HOT BIRD 4 and Transponders 90, 91 and 92 on HOT BIRD 5 can be configured to provide Skyplex 2 services. In this configuration the carrier transmitted by the satellite will be a digital MCPC carrier that conforms to the DVB-S standard. As far as reception is concerned, it will be identical in format to a digital MCPC carrier transmitted via any other non-skyplex transponder, which has been multiplexed on the ground. 2. Different digital television programmes are usually combined (multiplexed) on the ground prior to transmission via satellite as a single digital TV carrier. Skyplex is a system for multiplexing the different digital television programmes on-board the satellite instead of on the ground. This provides advantages for certain broadcasters/ service providers (e.g. independent uplinks to the satellite). page A3 June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guides.fm

Centre Nominal Downlink Frequency (GHz) Transponder No. Bandwidth (MHz) Polarisation Satellite 10.719 180 110 33 Y HOT BIRD 4 10.727 130 111 46.5 X 10.757 540 112 33 Y 10.775 080 113 36 X 10.795 900 114 33 Y 10.815 080 115 33 X 10.834 260 116 33 Y 10.853 440 117 33 X 10.872 620 118 33 Y 10.891 800 119 33 X 10.910 980 120 33 Y 10.930 160 121 33 X 10.949 340 122 33 Y 10.971 410 123 36 X HOT BIRD 5 10.992 160 124 36 Y 11.012 910 125 36 X 11.033 660 126 36 Y 11.054 410 127 36 X 11.075 160 128 36 Y 11.095 910 129 36 X 11.116 660 130 36 Y 11.158 330 131 72 X 11.179 080 132 72 Y 11.220 750 1 36 X HOT BIRD 1 11.241 500 2 36 Y 11.262 250 3 36 X 11.283 000 4 36 Y 11.303 750 5 36 X 11.324 500 6 36 Y 11.345 250 7 36 X 11.366 000 8 36 Y 11.386 750 9 36 X 11.407 500 10 36 Y 11.428 250 11 36 X 11.449 000 12 36 Y 11.471 410 13 36 X 11.492 160 14 36 Y 11.512 910 15 36 X 11.533 660 16 36 Y 11.565 740 153 33 X HOT BIRD 5 11.584 920 154 33 Y 11.604 100 155 33 X 11.623 280 156 33 Y 11.642 460 157 33 X 11.661 640 158 33 Y 11.680 820 159 33 X 11.727 480 50 33 Y HOT BIRD 2 11.746 660 51 33 X 11.765 840 52 33 Y 11.785 020 53 33 X 11.804.200 54 33 Y Table 2: Satellite Transponder Characteristics page A4 June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guides.fm

Centre Nominal Downlink Frequency (GHz) Transponder No. Bandwidth (MHz) Polarisation Satellite 11.823 380 55 33 X 11.842 560 56 33 Y 11.861 740 57 33 X 11.880 920 58 33 Y 11.900 100 59 33 X 11.919.280 60 33 Y 11.938 460 61 33 X 11.957 460 62 33 Y 11.976 820 63 33 X 11.996 000 64 33 Y 12.015 180 65 33 X 12.034 360 66 33 Y 12.053 540 67 33 X 12.072 720 68 33 Y 12.091 900 69 33 X 12.111 080 70 33 Y HOT BIRD 3 12.130 260 71 33 X 12.149 440 72 33 Y 12.168 620 73 33 X 12.187 800 74 33 Y 12.206 980 75 33 X 12.226 160 76 33 Y 12.245 340 77 33 X 12.264 520 78 33 Y 12.283 700 79 33 X 12.302 880 80 33 Y 12.322 060 81 33 X 12.341 240 82 33 Y 12.360 420 83 33 X 12.379 600 84 33 Y 12.398 780 85 33 X 12.417 960 86 33 Y 12.437 140 87 33 X 12.465 910 88 49.5 Y 12.475 500 89 33 X 12.519 840 90 33 Y HOT BIRD 5 12.539 020 91 33 X 12.558 200 92 33 Y 12.577 380 93 33 X 12.596 560 94 33 Y 12 615 740 95 33 X HOT BIRD 4 12 634 920 96 33 Y 12 654 100 97 33 X 12 673 280 98 33 Y 12 692 460 99 33 X 12 713 280 100 33 Y 12 730 820 101 33 X Table 2: Satellite Transponder Characteristics (continued) page A5 June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guides.fm

4. Satellite coverages The HOT BIRD satellite system provides a number of broadcast coverages. These have been designed to offer a range of geographical coverage areas and radiated power (EIRP) levels. The characteristics of the HOT BIRD coverages are given in Table 3. The coverages themselves are illustrated in Figure 2 to Figure 5. Coverage Provided On Transponders Saturated EIRP (inner contour) Typical Coverage SuperWidebeam HOT BIRD 1 all 49 dbw Figure 2 Superbeam HOT BIRD 2-5 all 53 dbw Figure 3 Widebeam HOT BIRD 2-5 all 50 dbw Figure 4 Steerable HOT BIRD 3, 4 (16 transponders) 70-75, 77, 88 111-118 Table 3: HOT BIRD Coverages 49 dbw Figure 5 The SuperWidebeam coverage is provided by HOT BIRD 1 and thus applies for Transponders 1 to 16. All other transponders can be operated with either Superbeam coverage or Widebeam coverage, the choice being made independently on a transponderby-transponder basis. Eight channels on each of the HOT BIRD 3 and HOT BIRD 4 satellites can also be independently switched to a steerable coverage. This allows broadcasting services to be developed in geographical areas that fall outside of the SuperWidebeam, Widebeam and Superbeam fixed coverage area. For example, Figure 5 shows the Steerable beam positioned over the Middle East region. Details of the current geographical positioning of the steerable beam and the services that it provides can be obtained from EUTELSAT. Note that the contours shown in each of the coverages of Figure 2 to Figure 5 correspond to saturated EIRP values 3. In some cases the EIRP level for a given TV transmission may be less than the saturated EIRP value, depending upon the transponder s operational configuration. This is typically the case for wideband transponders that accommodate more than one carrier. 3. The power radiated by the transponder when it is operated at its maximum output power level (with its on-board high power amplifier operated at saturation ). page A6 June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guides.fm

5. Azimuth, Elevation and Polarisation Angles Figure 6 is a chart showing the azimuth angle to the HOT BIRD satellites. The azimuth angle is measured in the local horizontal plane and is positive in a clockwise direction from true north. The directions east and south thus correspond to azimuth values of 90º and 180º respectively. Figure 7 is a chart showing the elevation angle to the HOT BIRD satellites. The elevation angle is measured in the local vertical plane containing the satellite and is expressed relative to the local horizontal plane. A value of zero would mean that the antenna is pointed towards the local horizon. Figure 8 is a chart showing the polarisation angle for the HOT BIRD satellites. This is the angle between the local vertical and the vertical (Y) polarisation plane. A positive value means rotation in a clockwise direction from the local vertical when looking towards the satellite. page A7 June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guides.fm

11 700 MHz 11 450 MHz 11 200 MHz 10 950 MHz 10 700 MHz 11 680.820 11 642.460 11 604.100 11 565.740 11 512.910 11 471.410 11 428.250 11 386.750 11 342.250 11 303.750 11 262.250 11 220.750 11 158.330 11 095.910 11 054.410 11 012.910 10 971.410 10 930.160 10 891.800 10 853.440 10 815.080 10 775.080 10 727.130 155 157 159 153 7 11 13 15 9 5 3 1 131 129 127 125 123 117 119 121 115 113 111 (46.5 MHz) 124 126 128 130 132 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 154 156 158 110 112 114 116 118 120 122 11 661.640 11 623.280 11 584.920 11 533.660 11 492.160 11 449.000 11 407.500 11 366.000 11 324.500 11 283.000 11 241.500 11 179.080 11 116.660 11 075.160 11 033.660 10 992.160 10 949.340 10 910.980 10 872.620 10 834.260 10 795.900 10 757.540 10 719.180 12 750 MHz 12 730.820 12 692.460 12 654.100 12 615.740 12 577.380 12 539.020 12 500 MHz 12 475.500 12 437.140 12 398.780 12 360.420 12 322.060 12 283.700 12 250 MHz 12 245.340 12 206.980 12 168.620 12 130.260 12 091.900 12 053.540 12 015.180 11 976.820 11 950 MHz 11 938.460 11 900.100 11 861.740 11 823.380 11 785.020 11 746.660 11 700 MHz 101 51 53 55 57 59 61 63 65 67 69 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 100 98 96 92 94 90 88 (49.5 MHz) 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 70 68 66 64 62 60 58 56 54 52 50 12 713.280 12 673.280 12 634.920 12 596.560 12 558.200 12 519.840 12 465.910 12 417.960 12 379.600 12 341.240 12 302.880 12 264.520 12 226.160 12 187.800 12 149.440 12 111.080 12 072.720 12 034.360 11 996.000 11 957.640 11 919.280 11 880.920 11 842.560 11 804.200 11 765.840 11 727.480 Key: 33 MHz Channels 36 MHz Channels 72 MHz Channels Non-Standard Bandwidth Channels Figure 1 : Downlink Transponder Plan for the HOT BIRD Location at 13 degrees East page A8 June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guides.fm

49 dbw 48 dbw 47 dbw 45 dbw 40 dbw Figure 2 : Transponders 1-16 (HOT BIRD 1, HOT BIRD Super-Widebeam Coverage) page A9 June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guides.fm

40 dbw 43 dbw 53 dbw 51 dbw 52 dbw 49 dbw 40 dbw 47 dbw 43 dbw 50 dbw 45 dbw Figure 3 : Transponders 50-159 (HOT BIRD 2, 3, 4, 5 Superbeam Coverage) page A10 June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guides.fm

46 dbw 44 dbw 49 dbw 50 dbw 48 dbw 42 dbw 44 dbw 40 dbw Figure 4 : Transponders 50-159 (HOT BIRD 2, 3, 4, 5 Widebeam Coverage) page A11 June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guides.fm

49 dbw 47 dbw 45 dbw 42 dbw Figure 5 : Example of Steerable Beam Coverage (HOT BIRD 3, 4) page A12 June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guides.fm

236 232 228 224 220 Technical Guide 240 244 248 252 256 216 212 208 204 200 196 192 188 184 180 176 172 168 164 160 Figure 6 : Azimuth Chart for the 13 East Orbital Position 156 152 148 144 140 136 132 128 124 120 116 page A13 June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guides.fm

04 Technical Guide 08 12 Latitude (degrees) 16 20 24 28 36 32 40 44 48 52 56 60 Longitude (degrees) Figure 7 : Elevation Chart for the 13 East Orbital Position 60 56 52 48 44 40 36 08 12 16 20 24 28 32 page A14 June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guides.fm

- 16 06-20 10-24 Technical Guide 14-28 18-32 22 Latitude (degrees) - 36-40 - 44-48 - 52-56 - 60-64 - 68-14 - 10-06 - 02 02 Longitude (degrees) Figure 8 : Polarisation Angle Chart for the 13 East Orbital Position 26 30 34 38 42 46 50 54 page A15 June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guides.fm

6. Contact Details For further information, please contact: Guy Wilkinson Laurence Bailly Tel: + 33 1 53 98 37 07 E-mail: gwilkins@eutelsat.fr Tel: + 33 1 53 98 46 42 E-mail: lbailly@eutelsat.fr Network Development 70 rue Balard F - 75502 PARIS CEDEX 15 France Fax: + 33 1 53 98 40 23 Note: All documents are available on the EUTELSAT web site: http://www.eutelsat.com/docs/tech If you are not already receiving regular mailings, please remember to complete the registration form name Technical Information Service on the web site. page A16 June 7, 1999 Annex A to technical guides.fm