MUMBAI: Arianespace will soon launch two satellites for DirecTV, with the option to add two more.

The new satellites will strengthen DirecTV’s direct-to-home (DTH) digital entertainment services across the US. Both the satellites will weigh over six metric tons and will be a part of a fleet expansion and replenishment programme.

The satellites will be launched on Ariane 5 from Europe‘s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana in 2014.
 
Said DirecTV chief technology officer Romulo Pontual, �DirecTV is pleased to be back with Arianespace and its high performance and highly reliable Ariane-5 launch vehicle services. We have the utmost confidence in this system’s design and in the depth of the organization behind this rocket. We have a long standing relationship with Arianespace and we are happy to build upon that foundation of success.�

Averred Arianespace CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall,"It is a matter of great pride that DirecTV has entrusted us with as many as four of their satellites. An order of this magnitude confirms Arianespace‘s reputation as offering the most reliable launch service and solutions in the marketplace. We are excited to build upon a relationship that goes back nearly two decades, to the dawn of the direct-to-home revolution, when Arianespace launched DBS-1 for DirecTV."

DirecTV-14 is currently being built by Space Systems Loral of
California. The DirecTV-15 satellite is in the final stages of contract award.