The Optus and Defence C1 relay platform will operate in four different frequency bands:
commercial services in Ku-band for Singtel Optus; and military communications at UHF, X
and Ka-bands for the Australian Department of Defence.
Optus and Defence C1 is one of the most advanced communications satellites ever built,
carrying a total of 16 antennas that will provide 18 beams across Australia, New Zealand
and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as global beams covering from India to Hawaii. It is
to operate from an orbital slot of 156 degrees East Longitude
Singtel Optus has the prime contractor role to the Australian Department of Defence for
the military communications payload, and the satellite was built under the responsibility
of Japan's Mitsubishi Electric. The spacecraft uses a FS 1300 satellite bus from
California's Space Systems/Loral, which handled its assembly, integration and testing, as
well as the supply of the commercial Ku-band payload subsystem. Raytheon from the U.S. was
the military UHF payload subsystem contractor.
The military Ka-band payload has four 33 MHz active transponders and one spare. It will
provide medium to high data rate defense theatre coverage and duplex video, along with
voice and data communications. This Ka-band communications service is a new capability for
the Australian Department of Defence.
X-band telecommunications links provided via the satellite will be used by the military
for medium to high data rate one- and two-way video, as well as voice and data
communications. Service will be provided by four 60 MHz active transponders, with an
additional transponder serving as a spare. The X-band communications links also are new
for the country's defense network.
UHF links via the relay satellite will enhance UHF capabilities already employed by the
Australian Department of Defence, and will be used for low data rate two-way voice and
data communications. There are five 5 kHz channels and one 25 kHz channel provided via the
satellite.
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