Arianespace Awarded Contract To Launch Satellite for UHD in Japan

Arianespace will launch the BSAT-4a satellite for Japan's Broadcasting Satellite System (B-SAT) in late 2017, it said in a Monday news release. The launch on an Ariane 5 rocket will be from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, under a contract between satellite manufacturer SSL and B-SAT. Arianespace has launched all of B-SAT's satellites. BSAT-4a is to provide digital broadcast services to Japan, including 4K and 8K Ultra HD TV services. Japanese broadcasters have earmarked the debut of 8K Ultra HD TV services in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.