World's First Re-progammable Commercial Satellite Ready To Launch

A successful launch would pave the way for mass production of the satellites, which have so far been one-offs.

The European Space Agency will on Friday launch the world's first commercial fully re-programmable satellite, paving the way for a new era of more flexible communications. Unlike conventional models that are designed and "hard-wired" on Earth and cannot be repurposed once in orbit, the Eutelsat Quantum is based on so-called software-defined technology that allows users to tailor the communications to their needs -- almost in real-time. "When a satellite is launched, demand and markets can change over time," Elodie Viau, the agency's telecommunications and applications director, told AFP recently. "A satellite that is not 'fixed' and can adapt to customers gives us better prospects."