LATEST NEWS
Next-generation optical ground station for fast and secure connectivity ready to begin operations in Chile, with ESA support
March 10, 2026 • 08:00
ESA’s flagship optical communications project awards Mynaric with contract to develop technology for its Demonstration System
March 4, 2026 • 13:00
ESA joins the O-RAN ALLIANCE to refine seamless satellite-to-smartphone connectivity
March 4, 2026 • 09:54
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.
For more information visit ‘Related Links’.