The SES-6 satellite, being built by Astrium for SES World Skies and scheduled for launch in early 2013, will replace the NSS-806 at the core orbital location at 319.5° E, and will provide a significant capacity expansion. The expanded Ku-band payload of SES-6 will offer a substantially enhanced coverage and capacity in North America, Central and South America. Home to Latin America’s cable neighbourhood, the new replacement satellite will further support HD and channel growth in the region.

With 43 C-band and 48 Ku-band 36-MHz equivalent transponders (38 C-band and 36 Ku-band physical transponders) SES-6 will have a total of five steerable Ku-band beams, including four beams for the Americas and one beam covering the Atlantic ocean region.

Based on a Eurostar E3000 model, the 6,100 kg satellite will have a design life of 15 years Prime contractor for SES-6, Astrium is responsible for the design and manufacture of the satellite, and the supply of both the payload and the platform.