Services Provided By Israel-Based Spacecom Will Expand Using Boeing's 702 Digital Satellite Platform

A Boeing-built 702 digital satellite called Amos-17 will provide affordable internet access and other communications services to underserved parts of Africa as well as Europe and the Middle East.

The satellite was launched Tuesday from Cape Canaveral, Florida at about 7:00 p.m. by SpaceX. It will enter service in a few months after on-orbit tests and moving to its final position over Africa.

Built on Boeing’s 702 satellite platform, AMOS-17 will deliver television, internet and data services to a potential market comprising hundreds of millions of people in its coverage regions. With both fixed and steerable beams, the multi-band AMOS-17 satellite can provide continual service to long-term customers while moving bandwidth to accommodate short-term demand for high capacity throughput, for example, during special events or natural disasters.

“AMOS-17 is packed with innovations so that it can support many challenging missions,” said Chris Johnson, president, Boeing Satellite Systems International, Inc. “We are proud to support Spacecom in their use of satellite technology to bring services, promote economic development and foster a greater sense of connection to people around the world.”

"Working with the Boeing team is a remarkable experience. The shared commitment to AMOS-17’s performance and advanced digital payload package and meeting our tight time and resource goals is a tremendous win for the Boeing team," said David Pollack, CEO and president of Spacecom. "We look forward to successfully completing our joint mission when AMOS-17 commences operations.”

In a side note, SpaceX provided launch services for the mission at no charge as compensation for the loss of a Spacecom Amos satellite in a launch pad explosion in 2016.

Bloomberg reports that SpaceX owed the Israeli company $50 million or a future launch, according to a statement issued by Spacecom a few days after the 2016 incident. Repairing the launch pad took 15 months to complete.

(Image provided with Boeing news release)

FMI: www.boeing.com
Bloomberg