| AMC-4 | |
| Names List: | GE-4 (1999-2001) AMC-4 (2001-present) |
| Mission Type: | Communications[1] |
| Operator: | GE Americom (1999-2001) SES Americom (2001-2009) SES World Skies (2009-2011) SES (2011-present) |
| Cospar Id: | 1999-060A |
| Satcat: | 25954 |
| Website: | SES-AMERICOM AMC-4 |
| Mission Duration: | 15 years (planned) [2] (elapsed) |
| Spacecraft: | GE-4 |
| Spacecraft Type: | Lockheed Martin A2100 |
| Spacecraft Bus: | LM A2100AX |
| Manufacturer: | Lockheed Martin |
| Launch Date: | 13 November 1999, 22:54 UTC |
| Launch Rocket: | Ariane 44LP H10-3 (V123) [3] |
| Launch Site: | Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2 |
| Launch Contractor: | Arianespace |
| Entered Service: | 2000 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric orbit |
| Orbit Regime: | Geostationary orbit |
| Orbit Longitude: | 134.9° West |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Trans Band: | 52 transponders: 24 C-band 28 Ku-band |
| Trans Frequency: | 36 MHz 72 MHz (4 Ku-band) |
| Trans Coverage: | North America, Latin America, Caribbean |
| Programme: | SES constellation |
| Previous Mission: | AMC-3 |
| Next Mission: | AMC-5 |
AMC-4 (formerly GE-4) is a commercial broadcast communications satellite owned by SES World Skies, part of SES (and formerly GE Americom, then SES Americom). Launched in 1999, from Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2 by Ariane 44LP H10-3. It provides coverage to North America, Latin America, Caribbean. Located in a geostationary orbit, AMC-4 provides service to commercial and government customers, with programming distribution, satellite news gathering and broadcast internet capabilities.[2]
AMC-4 was launched on 13 November 1999 at 22:54 UTC as GE-4, GE Americom's fourth A2100 hybrid C-band and Ku-band satellite. The C-band payload was home to national television networks broadcasting to thousands of cable television headends. AMC-4's Ku-band transponders served the direct-to-home (DTH), VSAT, business television and broadband Internet market segments. These Ku-band transponders are designed to be switchable between North and South American coverages.[2] It was renamed AMC-4 after GE Americom was bought by SES and re-branded SES Americom. In 2009, SES Americom merged with SES New Skies to form SES World Skies. AMC-4 has been replaced by SES-1 in 2010. AMC-4 has been moved to 134.9° West, and currently has no FTA signals.
| Transponders | C-band | Ku-band |
|---|---|---|
| Number of transponders and frequency | 24 x 36 MHz | 24 x 36 MHz; 4 x 72 MHz |
| Amp type | SSPA, 20 watts | TWTA, 110 watts |
| Amp redundancy: | 16 for 12 | 18 for 14 |
| Receiver redundancy: | 4 for 2 | 4 for 2 |
| Coverage: | North America, Latin America, Caribbean | |
| Beacon: | 3700.5 MHz (V), 4199.5 MHz (H) | 11702 MHz (H), 12198 MHz (V) |
| Typical Footprint Frequency Plan | ||