[Satellite TODAY Insider 04-11-11] Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) has leased multiple transponders on its ABS-7 satellite to Crescent Communications, which will use the capacity to provide broadcast and IP-based services in Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Middle East, the operator announced April 8.
    ABS-7, stationed at 116 degrees East, has seen a slew of contract activity since the operator acquired the satellite from Koreasat in May.
    In March, ABS announced it had entered into a multi-year agreement with ViaSat to provide Ka-band satellite service in key areas of the Middle East. ViaSat will use the bandwidth for fixed and mobile satellite services as a part of ViaSat’s continuing expansion of its Yonder mobile satellite network from global Ku-band coverage to growing Ka-band coverage in key international markets.
    In February, ABS signed a long-term, multi-transponder deal with SpaceCom International for Ku-band capacity to support SpaceCom’s rapid growth throughout the Middle East and Asia region.
    Separately, AsiaSat announced it was expanding its broadcasting services to offer a new C-band DVB-S2 multi-carrier per-channel distribution platform with wide coverage across the Asian and Australasian regions. The platform will be based on a full transponder, launched on AsiaSat 5 and operated by AsiaSat’s Tai Po Earth Station in Hong Kong. The platform aims to support a range of broadcast applications, including SD, HD and 3-D content contribution and distribution services in both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 standards.

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