The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has given its approval to the request by satellite operator Measat to use its 91.5E orbital slot for NewSat’s forthcoming Jabiru-1 satellite.
NewSat agreed to lease the orbital position…
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has given its approval to the request by satellite operator Measat to use its 91.5E orbital slot for NewSat’s forthcoming Jabiru-1 satellite.
NewSat agreed to lease the orbital position from Measat in early 2012 as part of a wider strategic partnership which sees the two companies lease capacity from their respective satellites.
Measat is to purchase US$197m worth of Jabiru-1’s Ka-band capacity payable over the 15 year life of the satellite. At the same time, NewSat will secure multiple Ku-band transponders on the Measat-3b satellite for a similar amount. That capacity is being marketed by NewSat as Jabiru-2.
Measat-3b will also be located at 91.5E and is due to be launched by Arianespace in the first quarter of 2014. Jabiru-1 is slated to be launched a year later in early 2015.
NewSat said that the MCMC confirmation was one of the final conditions required by the French and US export credit agencies to enable it secure the US$399m of debt financing it is using to fund the Jabiru-1 project. The company will now submit documentation to the ECAs demonstrating it has satisfied these requirements and will seek to draw down on the agreed facilities.
US Export Import Bank is providing a direct term loan of close to US$290m to support Lockheed’s construction of the spacecraft. Coface is guaranteeing a loan of around US$110m, provided by Standard Chartered, Credit Suisse and Societe Generale, which will help fund Jabiru-1’s launch by Arianespace.
