Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL), one of the world’s leading satellite operators, announced today that it has selected Thales Alenia Space to build a 40-transponder Ku-band satellite enabling a 50% increase in capacity operated at its 21.5° East location in geostationary orbit. Scheduled for launch in third quarter 2012, the satellite will replace Eutelsat‘s W6 craft at a core neighbourhood anchored for data, professional video and government services across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.