Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (Asiasat) signed a contract with Space Systems/Loral Inc. (SS/L) to design and build the Asiasat 5, the satellite operator announced May 2.

Asiasat 5 will be based on SS/L’s 1300 series satellite platform and carry 26 C-band transponders providing pan-Asian coverage and 14 Ku-band transponders providing three high- power beams — two covering East Asia and South Asia and a third steerable beam.

Asiasat 5 is designed to replace Asiasat 2, which will be retired in 2010, at 100.5 degrees East. The launch of Asiasat 5 is scheduled for the second quarter 2008.