Greenwich, Connecticut-based PanAmSat Corp has signed an agreement with Space Systems/Loral Inc for construction of the PAS-7 Indian Ocean Region and PAS-8 Pacific Ocean Region satellites. The new satellites will boost PanAmSat’s satellite capacity for broadcast and business communications services by more than 40%, bringing to 304 the total number of PanAmSat transponders worldwide. The PAS-7 and PAS-8 satellites will be FS 1300 spacecraft with minimum expected lifetimes of 15 years. PAS- 7 is expected to contain 14 C-band and 30 Ku-band transponders and provide coverage of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. It is scheduled for launch in late 1997 on an Ariane rocket. PAS- 8 is expected to have 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders and cover the Asia-Pacific region and is scheduled for launch in early 1998 on a Proton rocket.
