The joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), which is Asia’s largest satellite operator SKY Perfect JSAT, and Thales Alenia Space announced they have signed a contract to build JSAT-31, a new generation of software-defined satellite based on Thales Alenia Space’s Space INSPIRE (INstant SPace In-orbit REconfiguration) platform.
JSAT-31 High Throughput Satellite will provide high-speed internet services throughout Japan, South-East Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific islands. It will operate in both the Ka and Ku frequency bands. Anticipated to launch in 2027, JSAT-31 will be the most capacious SKY Perfect JSAT satellite in history. The first satellite ordered from Thales Alenia Space is JSAT-31, the 31st spacecraft obtained by SKY Perfect JSAT counting from JCSAT-1. Furthermore, beginning with this JSAT-31, SKY Perfect JSAT will be calling their new satellites “JSAT” instead of “JCSAT” and “Superbird”.
Thales Alenia Space is in charge of the ground segment and related services in addition to designing, producing, testing, and delivering the satellite on land as the prime contractor. CNES provides support for the development of the Space INSPIRE product line.
The newest satellite from SKY Perfect JSAT will be powered by Space INSPIRE, a highly adaptable and entirely software-defined system that maximizes the efficient use of satellite resources while providing immediate in-orbit adjustment to broadband connection demand. Throughout JSAT-31’s orbital life, SKY Perfect JSAT will take advantage of the satellite’s remarkable versatility to provide improved communications services.
According to SKY Perfect JSAT President and CEO Eiichi Yonekura, “JSAT-31 will play a key role in our infrastructure with its 50Gbps-class capacity and flexibility as a software-defined satellite. “Amidst significant market shifts, including the entry of new players, JSAT-31 will enable us to meet advanced customer needs and cater to the demands of growing markets, particularly in the expanding global and mobile sectors. SKY Perfect JSAT is aiming to enhance our overall offering by developing innovative, next-generation satellite communications services that embody ‘high speed, high capacity, high reliability, user-friendliness and competitive pricing.”
“Knowing how important this project is to SKY Perfect JSAT, I wanted to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our new customer for believing in us and in French and European space agencies, CNES and ESA, for supporting our new Space INSPIRE product line,” said Hervé Derrey, CEO of Thales Alenia Space. “A cutting-edge communications satellite that offers both extremely high performance and complete flexibility in orbit will be advantageous to SKY Perfect JSAT. The first Space INSPIRE satellite in Asia and the first telecommunications satellite given to Thales Alenia Space in Japan is JSAT-31.”
