Astrium, Europe's leading space technology company, has been awarded a contract by US company DIRECTV Latin America to build the latest addition to its communications satellite fleet. The satellite will be based on Astrium's highly reliable Eurostar E3000 platform and will be placed in orbit at the start of 2016.

The satellite will provide broadcasting services through up to 60 Ku-band transponders to Brazil, ensuring continuity of legacy services countrywide, while at the same time expanding into new services such as HDTV. To do so, it will be capable of providing overall coverage across Brazil, as well as regional television channels through 20 spot beams.

Eric Beranger, CEO of Astrium Satellites, said: "This order is great news - and proves that our flagship Eurostar E3000 platform with more than 480 years of operation in orbit, is not only one of the most reliable in the world, but still in demand and meeting the needs of our customers."

"DIRECTV is looking forward to extending its strong relationship with Astrium for the development of its critical high power broadcast satellites," said Phil Goswitz, senior vice president, Space and Communications for DIRECTV. "The new satellite will allow us to continue to take advantage of the tremendous opportunity for growth in Brazil."

The satellite will be a Eurostar E3000 satellite with a launch mass of 6,300kg and electrical power exceeding 16kW. It is designed to have a nominal orbit lifetime of over 15 years.