[Satellite TODAY 06-09-11] Taiwanese operator Chunghwa Telecom has informed New Tang Dynasty TV (NTDTV) that it will not renew its mutual contract, set to expire in August, because their new ST-2 satellite does not have enough broadband to carry NTDTV signals.

     ST-2 is Taiwan’s second commercial communications satellite and was successfully launched by Arianespace from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana on May 20. Chunghwa said it found another satellite that can provide similar services to NTDTV, which prompted the broadcaster to ask the Taiwanese National Communications Commission (NCC) to intervene.

    “NTDTV still wants to use ST-2’s services, and we will keep negotiating with NTDTV over the matter. We hope they can give us a definite reply by Thursday as they wished to settle the problem as soon as possible,” Chunghwa Telecom said in a company statement.

     ST-2 is jointly owned and operated by Chunghwa Telecom and Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel). The satellite will replace the ST-1 satellite launched in 1998.