AsiaSat’s most powerful satellite designed with enhanced quality and reliability for DTH, television, VSAT broadband and mobility services
PALO ALTO, Calif./Hong Kong – 30 August 2017 — Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (AsiaSat), Asia’s leading satellite operator and Space Systems Loral (SSL), a leading provider of innovative satellites and spacecraft systems today announced that the high performance AsiaSat 9 satellite has arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where it will be launched aboard a Proton Breeze M vehicle provided by International Launch Services (ILS). AsiaSat 9, a replacement satellite for AsiaSat 4 at 122 degrees East, provides wider high-power C-band coverage and additional Ku-band capacity for new markets including Myanmar and Indonesia for direct-to-home (DTH) television broadcast, video distribution, VSAT broadband networks and mobility services across the Asia-Pacific region.
“AsiaSat and SSL have a history of working together closely to broaden the availability of high quality satellite service in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Dario Zamarian, Group President of SSL. “AsiaSat 9 incorporates multiple technology advances that pack more power, bandwidth, and flexibility into the satellite for the improved coverage and higher communication rates that AsiaSat needs to meet market demand. With the satellite now in Baikonur, we look forward to working with both AsiaSat and ILS to prepare it for launch.”
“We are committed to providing high quality service to both our existing customers and new users as we reach a new milestone for higher-performance, higher-efficiency and greater flexibility with our new AsiaSat 9,” said Andrew Jordan, President and Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat. “SSL has been a reliable and innovative manufacturing partner in the development of our fleet, and we look forward to the upcoming launch.”
AsiaSat 9 is AsiaSat’s most powerful satellite, designed to deliver significantly improved power and higher bandwidth usage to generate higher efficiency for customers’ services. This is enabled by innovative and unique features including Asia’s highest powered 110 watts C-band TWTA, special filter design to achieve higher throughput up to 23% enhancement across wide C-band coverage, star tracker onboard the spacecraft for higher pointing accuracy, along with hall effect thrusters to provide higher stability and more efficient satellite operation.
With 32 Ku- and 28 C-band transponders, and a regional Ka-band payload, AsiaSat 9 carries the world’s first dedicated Ku-band Myanmar beam, new high-powered Ku-band beams for Indonesia and Mongolia, in addition to two enhanced Ku-band beams serving Australasia and East Asia. These five Ku-band beams are equipped with cross-strap beam switching capability to provide flexible coverage.
AsiaSat 9 is the fifth satellite that SSL has provided to AsiaSat. Based on the SSL 1300 platform, the satellite is designed to provide service for 15 years or more. The satellite is currently planned for launch on 28 September Moscow time 09:50pm (29 September Baikonur time 00:50am, Hong Kong time 02:50am).
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About AsiaSat
Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), the leading satellite operator in Asia, serves over two-thirds of the world’s population with its six satellites, AsiaSat 3S, AsiaSat 4, AsiaSat 5, AsiaSat 6, AsiaSat 7 and AsiaSat 8. The AsiaSat satellite fleet serves both the broadcast and telecommunications industries. Over 700 television and radio channels are now delivered by the company’s satellites offering access to more than 830 million TV households across the Asia-Pacific region. AsiaSat’s next satellite, AsiaSat 9 is planned to be launched at the end of September 2017. AsiaSat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited, a company listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock Code: 1135). For more information, please visit www.asiasat.com | LinkedIn | Facebook | Mobile App
About SSL
Space Systems Loral (SSL), based in Palo Alto, California, is a leading provider of advanced spacecraft systems, with broad expertise to support commercial and government satellite operators and innovative space missions. The company designs and manufactures spacecraft for services such as direct-to-home television, video content distribution, broadband internet, mobile communications, in-orbit servicing, space exploration, and Earth observation. As a Silicon Valley innovator for 60 years, SSL’s advanced product line includes state-of-the-art small satellites, and sophisticated robotics and autonomous solutions for remote operations. SSL is a subsidiary of SSL MDA Holdings, Inc., a U.S. operating company. For more information, visit www.sslmda.com.
About SSL MDA Holdings
SSL MDA Holdings is a wholly owned subsidiary of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) and serves as the operating company for all MDA businesses. SSL MDA Holdings is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
About MDA
MDA is a global communications and information company providing operational solutions to commercial and government organizations worldwide. MDA’s business is focused on markets and customers with strong repeat business potential, primarily in the Communications sector and the Surveillance and Intelligence sector. In addition, the Company conducts a significant amount of advanced technology development. MDA’s established global customer base is served by more than 4,800 employees operating from 15 locations in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The Company’s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TSX:MDA. For more information, visit www.mdacorporation.com.
Media Contacts:
AsiaSat
Winnie Pang | Tel: (852) 2500 0880 | Email: wpang@asiasat.com
SSL
Wendy Lewis | Tel: 1 (650) 852-5188 | Email: Wendy.Lewis@sslmda.com
Offloading the AsiaSat 9 container from a transport aircraft at the Baikonur airport
Photo courtesy of ILS
AsiaSat and SSL teams with the AsiaSat 9 payload before shipment
Photo courtesy of SSL