  The Optus D2 satellite was successfully launched in orbit using the Arianespace centre this morning (5 October at 22:02 GMT).
Optus D2 will be operated by Australian-based Singtel Optus enabling the development of new business opportunities for the direct-to-home market, new data services and services bundling.
This is the second satellite in Optus' D-series fleet – the first of which was orbited by an Ariane 5 in October 2006. Liftoff of the Ariane 5 GS with Optus D2 completed on October 5 in an evening launch window. It is the fourth of six Ariane 5 flights planned by Arianespace in 2007 – continuing the sustained mission rate to meet the company’s growing commercial order book.
GlobeCast Australia will expand its services to include a third Optus D-series satellite servicing Australia and New Zealand. Optus announced its plans for the new satellite in March 2007 and said it would increase Optus’ satellite fleet capacity by more than 30%. GlobeCast Australia will participate in the new D-series satellite with FOXTEL, Australia’s leading subscription television provider which also uses the Optus satellite fleet.
The Optus D3 satellite is scheduled for delivery in 2009. Optus launched the first D-series satellite (D1) in October 2006.
The Optus D-series satellites deliver direct-to-home television, high definition television, broadband and VSAT services.
The Head of Optus Satellite, Paul Sheridan, said that with the plans for D3, Optus was positioned to grow opportunities for the ethnic services broadcast sector and provide additional in-orbit redundancy for customers to the year 2020 and beyond.
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