Press Release

India-Malaysia to Develop a Satellite Neighbourhood for Asia-Pacific

By SpaceRef Editor
December 22, 2004
Filed under , ,
India-Malaysia to Develop a Satellite Neighbourhood for Asia-Pacific
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Antrix Corporation Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO, and MEASAT Global
Bhd (BLOOM:MGB MK), (“MEASAT”) signed an agreement to form a Joint Venture
Company (“JV Co”) to pool their satellite capabilities, in a major move to
develop a satellite neighbourhood for millions of broadcasting and
telecommunications customers across the wider Asia Pacific region. The Prime
Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and Malaysian Prime Minister, YAB Dato’ Seri
Abdullah Ahmad Badwai, witnessed the exchange of the landmark agreement
between Antrix and MEASAT last evening (December 20, 2004) at New Delhi.
The Joint Venture, which will be equally owned by the two companies,
represents a significant breakthrough and major step in the ongoing
cooperation between the Indian and Malaysian satellite sectors. The JV Co
will leverage capacity from both the high powered Indian and Malaysian,
MEASAT, satellite fleets to provide commercial satellite services across the
wider Asia-Pacific region.

“We have been working closely with MEASAT across a number of areas over the
last few years, including the provision of its satellite” said Mr K R
Sridhara Murthi, Executive Director, Antrix. “We are excited to be able to
extend our cooperation through this joint venture, and position INSAT to be
a leading satellite system serving the wider Asia-Pacific market”.
By pooling agreed capacity from these neighbouring satellites in the
strategically located orbital slots of 93.5 degree East longitude and 91.5
degree East longitude, the JV Co will be able to provide C-band satellite
services to over 70 percent of the world’s population, and Direct-to-Home
(DTH) quality Ku-band satellite services to over 160 million TV households
across South Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Indo-China.

The JV will leverage the MEASAT Teleport and Broadcast Center for the
provision of leading edge satellite services, and explore feasibility of the
development of a worldclass customer teleport in India.

As part of the ongoing cooperation between the two organisations, MEASAT has
also signed a Letter of Intent with Antrix to procure a new satellite,
MEASAT-4 from ISRO. The satellite will provide additional Ku-band capacity
for the MEASAT fleet, as well as the opportunity for the Indian and
Malaysian space communities to work together.

Detailed discussions on technical and commercial issues are at an advanced
stage, with the satellite expected to be procured for scheduled launch Q1
2007.

“We have used Indian space technology and expertise on the MEASAT-1 and
MEASAT-3 programs”, said Y Bhg Tun Haji Mohammed Hanif Omar, Director,
MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd. (formerly known as Binariang Satellite
Systems Sdn. Bhd.). “We are pleased to be able to work with ISRO/Antrix on a
new satellite which will further our joint interests across the region,” Tun
Hanif concluded.

About ANTRIX

Antrix Corporation, the premier space marketing company of India, offering
state-of-the-art products and services developed by Indian Space Research
Organisation across global markets. In this role, Antrix markets satellite
capacity from India’s INSAT fleet of satellites which, with eight
geostationary satellites, represents one of the largest domestic
communication satellite systems in the region; and image data and services
from Indian Remote Sensing Satellite constellation, which is supported by a
network of twenty international ground stations.

In addition to satellite services, Antrix also offers cost effective
commercial communications spacecraft, based on INSAT and GSAT platforms
developed by ISRO; and, launch services. To date, ISRO has launched four
commercial satellites, with contracts for three more over the next two years
secured. For more information visit www.antrix.org

About MEASAT

MEASAT is a premium supplier of satellite communication services to Asia’s
leading broadcasters, telecommunications providers and DTH operators.
Operating a two-satellite network, MEASAT today serves customers in South
East Asia, Indo-China, South Asia and Australia. The launch of MEASAT-3 in
mid 2005 will provide customers with a satellite able to reach 70 percent of
the world’s population through a single high powered C-band beam. Co-located
with MEASAT-1 at 91.5 degree East longitude, MEASAT-3 will also provide
customers with in-orbit redundancy for both C and Ku-band services. With a
new KL Teleport and Broadcast Centre opening end 2004 MEASAT also offers a
range of services to the region’s broadcasting and telecommunications
companies. For more information, please visit www.measat.com

SpaceRef staff editor.