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First-of-its-kind optical ground station commissioned in Luxembourg to demonstrate international quantum-secure communications
July 26, 2026 • 17:10
Greek satellite assembly and testing facility fully commissioned, ready to begin operations
July 14, 2026 • 10:27
User Terminal Workshop hosted by ESA and the European Commission convenes to shape the future of satellite connectivity solutions
July 10, 2026 • 14:51
EVENTS
HydRON – User Workshop
January 25, 2022
Publication date
28 Jul 2003
ECS-4 was one of the first European Communications Satellites to cover the whole European continent, enabling coverage for cable television, telephone communications, specialised services and Eurovision transmissions.
ECS-4/Eutelsat I-F4 (click
for larger image)
ESA developed and launched 5 European Communications Satellites between 1983 and 1988 for use by Eutelsat. The ECS system anticipated the need for digital transmission techniques for telephony, allowing for high-speed data traffic.
The ECS system has accumulated more than 3 million hours of operation.
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