The Horizons-2 satellite joint venture between Bermuda-registered Intelsat and Japan's JSAT Corporation, will fulfill a security role for the East Coast of the US as well as providing commercial use for the Caribbean, the US and Canada.

As reported in The Royal Gazette last week, the new satellite was launched from the European Space launch complex on French Guinana.

It will circle the earth at a distance of 22,300 miles and perform a number of roles as a communications satellite, including boosting US coastal security along the eastern seaboard.

"Horizons 2 will provide occasional use video and IP-based content distribution for the continental United States, the Caribbean and parts of Canada. Through a specialised capability, the satellite will support a number of comms-on-the-move applications for government customers.

Its unique boomerang beam will support littoral water operations off the US eastern seaboard for homeland security, ship-to-shore communications and cargo tracking," Intelsat said.