Five rays of light for the satellite sector: between price pressures and flat demand, Asia's satellite industry has seen better days. The pessimists say it will stay that way for at least the next year or two, but optimists say the slump is opening new avenues for the industry to pursue. Telecom Asia reviews five of the most talked-about new satellite service opportunities

Telecom Asia, June, 2004 by John C. Tanner

ON THE LAUNCH PAD

AUSTRALIA

Optus

Optus D1

Capacity: 24 Ku-band 8 back-up channels

Status: scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2005

Optus D2

Capacity: 24 Ku-band 8 back-up channels

Status: scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2006

CHINA

Sino Satellite Communications

Sinosat 2

Capacity: 24 Ku-band

Status: to be launched in 2005

HONG KONG

APT Satellite

Apstar V (formerly Apstar VA)

Capacity: 38 C-band and 16-Ku band

Status: to be launched in the second quarter of 2004 to replace Apstar I

Apstar VI (formerly Apstar VB)

Capacity: 38 C-band and 16-Ku band

Status: to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2004 to replace Apstar IA

JAPAN

JSAT Corp

JCSAT-9

Capacity: C-band and Ku-band transponders (specifics not disclosed

Status: to be launched in 2005 to replace NSTARa

JCSAT-10

Capacity: C-band and Ku-band transponders (specifics not disclosed)

Status: Arianespace contracted as launch provider, but no launch timeframe set

MALAYSIA

Binariang Satellite Systems

Measat 3

Capacity: 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band

Status: to be launched in 2005

THAILAND

Shin Satellite

iPSTAR-1

Capacity: 87 Ku-band spot beams, 3 Ku-band shaped beams, 10 Ka-band

Status: to be launched in June 2004

VIETNAM

Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (VNPT)

Vietnam Communication Satellite (VINASAT)

Capacity: up to 28 transponders

Status: Tentative launch planned for 2005-2006, pending slot coordination with Tonga and Japan

INTERNATIONAL

Worldsat

Worldsat 3 (formerly AMC-13)

Capacity: 18 C-band and 20 Ku-band

Status: Under redesign after being sold by SES American to subsidiary Worldsat earlier this year. Launch scheduled for the end of 2005

KEY

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DISCLAIMER: RATINGS ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL/ ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY, AND SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A BASIS FOR CALCULATING ROI ON ANY OF THE SERVICES LISTED