Intelsat 33e satellite loss

Intelsat announced today that the anomaly reported on October 19 has resulted in the complete loss of its Intelsat 33e satellite, affecting customers across Europe, Africa, and parts of the Asia-Pacific region

Intelsat is coordinating with Boeing, the satellite’s manufacturer, and government agencies to analyse data and observations. A Failure Review Board has been convened to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the incident.

Since the anomaly, Intelsat has maintained active communication with affected customers and partners. Migration and service restoration plans are already underway using the Intelsat fleet and third-party satellites to minimise disruption.

Details of the anomaly and loss

The Intelsat 33e satellite experienced a critical anomaly on October 19, resulting in a power failure and the subsequent disruption of service. Despite efforts to resolve the issue, current assessments indicate that the satellite is not recoverable. The satellite, launched in August 2016 and operational since January 2017, was positioned at 60 degrees East.

Intelsat continues to evaluate its fleet capacity and is working with third-party providers to restore services for affected customers.