Stephane Israel, Chairman and CEO of Arianespace, and Nelson Salgado, CEO of Visiona Tecnologia Espacial S.A., today signed the launch contract for the next Brazilian government satellite, the Geostationary Defense and Strategic Communications Satellite (SGDC), in Brasilia.

The contract signing ceremony was held under the auspices of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and French President Francois Hollande.

Brazil's Geostationary Defense and Strategic Communications Satellite (SGDC) will be launched by an Ariane 5 in 2016 from the Guiana Space Center, Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

SGDC will be the 12th satellite orbited by Arianespace for Brazilian telecommunications operators.

Visiona Tecnologia Espacial S.A. is a joint venture between Telebras Telecomunicacoes Brasileiras S.A. and Embraer Defense and Security. The SGDC satellite will be dedicated to strategic communications for the Brazilian Ministry of Defense, and broadband services for the Ministry of Telecommunications.

"Arianespace was chosen after a rigorous international selection process, and it represents the best solution for the SGDC," said Nelson Salgado, President of Visiona.

Arianespace Chairman and CEO Stephane Israel said: "Arianespace is particularly proud of this opportunity to serve the Brazilian government, the prime contractor Visiona, and the operator Telebras, and to contribute to a project that will reduce the digital divide across all of Brazil.

This 12th contract with Brazil, coming 30 years after the launch of Brasilsat A1 in 1985 on an Ariane 3, is the recognition of an exceptional partnership between Brazil and France in the space sector."

The SGDC satellite will be built by Thales Alenia Space, and will weigh more than 5,800 kg at launch, with a design life exceeding 15 years. Fitted with X and Ka-band transponders, the satellite will provide both civil and military telecommunications services from its orbital position at 75 degrees West.

The five X-band transponders will cover all of South America and neighboring maritime routes. The Ka-band payload will offer isolated villages in Brazil access to high-quality broadband services at an affordable price.