Payloads units for future telecommunication satellites — A Thales perspective

Satellite operators are pushing for a competitive communication satellite industry. On one hand, they look for rationalizing their fleet and require both price and schedule reduction. On the other hand, to keep market shares, satellite operators call for more reactive and versatile solutions to quickly grasp new markets and to adapt to the short-term evolutions. Satellite industry shall take up the challenge by improving both current telecommunication satellites and offering new generation of satellite technology, more flexible and able to address new markets. This paper provides an overview of the needs for payload units from Thales Alenia Space perspectives.