ASIASAT 4 GETS UNDERWAY

Asia Satellite Telecommunications (AsiaSat) confirmed that the construction of AsiaSat 4 has started following the finalisation of a satellite procurement contract with Hughes Space and Communications International. AsiaSat 4 will be is the company’s fourth satellite and is scheduled for launch in the first half of 2002. The satellite will be positioned at the orbital slot of 122 degrees East.

AsiaSat 4, a Hughes HS601HP satellite, will carry 28 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders and has an expected operational life span of 15 years. “The C-band payload is designed to offer pan-Asian coverage, similar to that of the company’s two other satellites, AsiaSat 2 and AsiaSat 3S,” said AsiaSat in a statement. “The Ku-band payload, offering high power and spot beams for selected areas, will consist of 16 Ku-band transponders operating in the FSS [Fixed Satellite Service] frequency band and four designed to operate in the BSS [Broadcast Satellite Service] frequency band.”