Arabsat has signed a strategic commercial agreement with Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) to have a multi-transponder Ku-band payload on the latter’s all-electric satellite, ABS-3A.
The spacecraft, which has up to a total of 48 C and Ku-band…
Arabsat has signed a strategic commercial agreement with Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) to have a multi-transponder Ku-band payload on the latter’s all-electric satellite, ABS-3A.
The spacecraft, which has up to a total of 48 C and Ku-band transponders, is due to be launched by SpaceX in late 2014 / early 2015. It will be located at 3W, covering the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and parts of Africa.
Arabsat said it would use the new capacity, which is for the lifetime of the satellite, to support additional growth opportunities and customer requirements in its core MENA region.
Khalid Balkheyour, president and CEO of the satellite operator, said: “We are very pleased with this payload agreement with ABS, and we hope it is the beginning of a long term successful partnership.
“Arabsat has put in the market Request for Proposals for four new satellites at different orbital locations, and yet, we continue to see a rapid increase in [our] customers’ demand for telecommunication and broadcasting services across the region. This agreement leverages Arabsat’s capabilities to harness more growth opportunities over the coming three years.”
Tom Choi, CEO of ABS, added: “ABS is very excited to collaborate with Arabsat on this strategic transaction. The MENA beam of ABS-3A is the first time ABS has been able to provide a complete coverage of all of Middle East and North Africa.”
ABS-3A was part of the four satellite joint procurement agreement that ABS and Mexican satellite operator Satmex signed with Boeing in early 2012.
The satellites are the first to be based on Boeing’s 702SP all-electric platform, making them significantly lighter than those that rely on heavy chemical propulsion. This means they are cheaper to launch but on the downside an all-electric bird launched by SpaceX would take six to eight months to reach its intended orbit.
