• Latest
  • Trending
Intelsat 33e suffers permanent power failure, highlighting vulnerabilities in satellite infrastructure

Intelsat 33e suffers permanent power failure, highlighting vulnerabilities in satellite infrastructure

October 22, 2024
South African investment giant raises caution on Bitcoin ETF risks

South African investment giant raises caution on Bitcoin ETF risks

September 26, 2025
OpenAI’s ChatGPT Pulse now available for Pro users

OpenAI’s ChatGPT Pulse now available for Pro users

September 26, 2025
MSport 2025

MSport 2025: Nigeria’s #1 Sports Betting Site, Powered by Chelsea & BVB

September 25, 2025
MNT-Halan introduces Egypt’s first secure lending solution via Halan App

MNT-Halan introduces Egypt’s first secure lending solution via Halan App

September 25, 2025
Visa, intella partner to boost MENA’s financial institutions with Arabic conversational AI

Visa, intella partner to boost MENA’s financial institutions with Arabic conversational AI

September 25, 2025
Airtel Africa invests in education with 100 scholarships and new tech hubs

Airtel Africa invests in education with 100 scholarships and new tech hubs

September 25, 2025
SINOTRUK enters Libya with Aseel Auto as exclusive distributor in Benghazi

SINOTRUK enters Libya with Aseel Auto as exclusive distributor in Benghazi

September 25, 2025
Tango Brook launches digital card for fuel management

Tango Brook launches digital card for fuel management

September 25, 2025
AI in Nigeria announces 3rd edition of InnovationAI

AI in Nigeria announces 3rd edition of InnovationAI

September 25, 2025
Interswitch Unveils Quickteller Travel to Transform African Travel Experience

Interswitch Unveils Quickteller Travel to Transform African Travel Experience

September 25, 2025
Your one-stop tech hub! Get the latest updates on AI, cybersecurity, fintech, and emerging technologies.
  • Tech News
    • Africa Tech
    • Global Tech
    • Tech with Pelumy
    • Tech Careers
    • Tech TV
    • General News
    • How To
    • Reviews
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Fintech
  • Startups
  • Ai
No Result
View All Result
  • Tech News
    • Africa Tech
    • Global Tech
    • Tech with Pelumy
    • Tech Careers
    • Tech TV
    • General News
    • How To
    • Reviews
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Fintech
  • Startups
  • Ai
No Result
View All Result
Techpression
No Result
View All Result
Home Tech News Global Tech News

Intelsat 33e suffers permanent power failure, highlighting vulnerabilities in satellite infrastructure

Ibukunoluwa Bankole by Ibukunoluwa Bankole
October 22, 2024
147 5
0
Intelsat 33e suffers permanent power failure, highlighting vulnerabilities in satellite infrastructure

Intelsat 33e suffers permanent power failure, highlighting vulnerabilities in satellite infrastructure

471
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterWhatsAppTelegram

The Intelsat 33e geostationary high-throughput satellite (HTS), which provided coverage for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and parts of the Asia-Pacific, has experienced a catastrophic failure, resulting in its breakup on Saturday, October 19. This incident disrupts service for its numerous clients and highlights the vulnerabilities associated with satellite technology.

Anomalies of Intelsat 33e Satellite

In an official statement, Intelsat confirmed that the satellite “experienced an anomaly”, leading to a complete loss of power, which consequently cut off service to all customers reliant on the satellite’s connectivity. Despite efforts to collaborate with Boeing Space Systems, the satellite’s manufacturer, Intelsat expressed scepticism regarding the feasibility of recovering the satellite, indicating that it is “unlikely” to be restored.

Read also: Liberia signs one-year agreement with Starlink as Mali lifts ban

Adding to the concern, the U.S. Space Command reported via a post on X (formerly Twitter) that Intelsat 33e had broken apart, with approximately 20 pieces now being tracked in space. This fragmentation raises alarms about space debris and the potential risks posed to other satellites and space operations.

RelatedPosts

Airtel Africa invests in education with 100 scholarships and new tech hubs

AfriChange embraces stablecoins to power cross-border remittances

Cassava, Accenture reach agreement to expand autonomous AI capabilities across Africa

Coverage and Impact of Intelsat 33e Satellite

Intelsat 33e was equipped with a versatile payload that included C-band, Ku-band, and Ka-band transponders designed to deliver a wide range of communication services. The satellite’s C-band spot beams catered to regions including Europe, Central Africa, the Middle East, Central South Asia, eastern China, parts of Southeast Asia, and Australia, while a wide C-band beam served sub-Saharan Africa.

The Ku-band beams extended coverage across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, providing vital connectivity for various applications. Additionally, the Ka-band transponder was intended to enhance services across these regions, underscoring the satellite’s significance in supporting broadband and communication needs.

Intelsat has initiated communication with all affected customers and third-party providers to address service interruptions in light of this unexpected failure. The company actively seeks backup connectivity options within its satellite fleet to minimise the impact on users who depend on Intelsat 33e for critical communication services.

Read also: Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications moves to stem fibre cuts

A shortened lifespan and previous challenges

Launched in August 2016 and entering service in January 2017, Intelsat 33e faced significant challenges, including a malfunction with its primary thruster that delayed its operational launch. Initially designed with a 15-year lifespan, the satellite’s operational period trimmed by 3.5 years due to another propulsion issue during orbital tests.

Intelsat 33e was the second satellite in Intelsat’s EpicNG HTS series, following the launch of Intelsat 29e in January 2016. The earlier satellite also encountered problems, experiencing a fuel leak that ultimately led to its total loss in April 2019, just over three years after its launch.

The demise of Intelsat 33e serves as a stark reminder of the challenges inherent in satellite technology and the importance of reliability in communication infrastructure. As the industry grapples with the fallout from this incident, the focus will inevitably shift towards enhancing future satellites’ durability and operational longevity, ensuring that they can meet the increasing demands of a connected world. The legacy of Intelsat 33e may catalyse innovation and improvement in satellite design and technology moving forward.

Tags: AfricaEuropeIntelsat 33eMiddle East
Ibukunoluwa Bankole

Ibukunoluwa Bankole

No Result
View All Result

Quick Links

  • Tech News
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Fintech
  • Startups
  • Business

Follow Us:

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • Twitter(X)
  • Linkedin
  • YouTube
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2025 Techpression.com -Techpression Media Limited

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in .

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tech News
    • Africa Tech
    • Global Tech
    • Tech with Pelumy
    • Tech Careers
    • Reviews
    • How To
    • General News
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Business
  • Fintech
  • Startups
  • Featured
  • Ai
  • Tech TV

© 2025 Techpression.com -Techpression Media Limited

techpression.com
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.