November 17, 2021 – Arianespace and Australian operator SingTel Optus signed the launch contract for the Optus-11 communications satellite. The launch, scheduled for the second half of 2023, will use the Ariane 64 version of the Ariane 6 launcher, with four solid boosters. Optus-11 is a Ku-band communications satellite with a coverage zone encompassing Australia and New Zealand. Optus-11 incorporates a number of advanced technologies, especially the latest developments in digital processing, plus active antennas enabling the creation of several thousand beams. Fully configurable in orbit, this satellite will expand the capacity of the operator’s current geostationary orbit constellation – making it the largest constellation ever deployed by an Australian company. The Ariane 64 configuration for this mission provides enhanced performance to inject the Optus-11 satellite into a high-energy geostationary transfer orbit, enabling it to start operation more quickly.