SES suffers anomaly on AMC-9 satellite

Satellite operator SES has started transferring capacity from its AMC-9 satellite following what it described as a “significant anomaly” with the craft.

SES noted the anomaly on June 17 and said had taken immediate action in contacting all customers and is working to transfer services to alternative satellite capacity in order to minimise disruption.

The satellite, which was manufactured by Alcatel and Thales and was launched in 2003, provided Ku-band and C-band coverage over the US and Mexico.

SES said it was working closely with the manufacturer to establish the cause of the anomaly and is evaluating all satellite recovery options. The full impact of the anomaly is still being assessed.

In the event that the spacecraft cannot be recovered, the potential impact on SES’s full year 2017 group revenue could be up to €20 million, the company said In this event, it would also be expected to result in a one-off impairment charge of €38 million, said SES.