JSAT Teams Up With B-Sat For Hybrid Satellite

[09-18-07 – Satellite Today] JSAT is teaming up with Broadcasting Satellite System Corp. (B-SAT) to jointly procure and launch a hybrid broadcast/communications satellite in 2011, the companies announced Sept. 18. The satellite, which will be located at 110° East, will be controlled by B-SAT.

The agreement was reached after changes in regulations in the Japanese market. In July 2007, Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications eased regulations to effectively lift the ban on hybrid satellites.

Following this move, JSAT decided to jointly procure a satellite with B-SAT to serve as a backup spacecraft for JCSAT-110. JSAT said it hopes that both companies can build “even stronger bonds of trust through this joint procurement agreement while striving to promote greater adoption of … satellite broadcasting services” at the 110° East slot.

Earlier this month, JSAT lost its JCSAT-11 spacecraft, which was destroyed when its Proton launch vehicle failed shortly after lift-off. The satellite operator already has ordered another A2100AX satellite from Lockheed Martin that is scheduled to be delivered in the summer of 2009.