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Dubai-based satellite operator, ABS, plans to expand its reach in the Middle East and Asia following the successful launch of ABS 2, its latest satellite.
The satellite, which was launched last Thursday on the Ariane 5 ECA launcher, is ABS’s sixth satellite and the first that it has designed and launched itself. The satellite will transform ABS’s position in the region by expanding its broadcast and communications capacity, according to Mohammed Youssif, COO, ABS.
“What is interesting about this satellite is that it’s a very powerful and heavy satellite. This enables it to have a lot of coverage over Asia, Middle East, Africa, India both in C, Ku and Ka bands. It opens up whole new territories and whole new capacities for ABS,” Youssif told DPME.
ABS 2 is equipped with 89-active transponders that vary in bandwidth, Youssif added. “Some are 36MHz, 54MHz and some are 72MHz. This has transformed the company into a satellite operator that designs satellites based on requirements for the future.”
ABS will soon conduct an IOT (In Orbit Test) which will last about a month. It is only after clearing the IOT that ABS 2 will be activated for service.
Youssif said: “Currently the satellite is going to be located at 75-degrees East. We have two satellites that are currently positioned there. They are older satellites but still have lifespan left. Once ABS 2 is in place we’ll start migrating the traffic on to it. With migration complete, ABS 2 will be 60% full.
“We’re then going to take the two satellites and move them to different locations, and open new orbital locations. This will then give us six operational satellites, and in the next 18 months we will have two more satellite launches. One scheduled for the end of this year and one for six months after,” he added.
With this rapid expansion, ABS is transforming itself from a local satellite operator, mainly focusing on Asia, to a global player. Its satellites will soon cover most of the planet with the exception of North America.
Once ABS 2 is operational, the operator will launch ABS 3 at 3-degrees West and ABS 2A, which will re-enter the 75-degrees East location to provide ABS’ clients with additional capacity and redundancy.
ABS 2’s launch had been delayed from the original launch date at the end of January.
ABS eyes expansion after launch of ABS 2 satellite | DigitalProductionME.com
The satellite, which was launched last Thursday on the Ariane 5 ECA launcher, is ABS’s sixth satellite and the first that it has designed and launched itself. The satellite will transform ABS’s position in the region by expanding its broadcast and communications capacity, according to Mohammed Youssif, COO, ABS.
“What is interesting about this satellite is that it’s a very powerful and heavy satellite. This enables it to have a lot of coverage over Asia, Middle East, Africa, India both in C, Ku and Ka bands. It opens up whole new territories and whole new capacities for ABS,” Youssif told DPME.
ABS 2 is equipped with 89-active transponders that vary in bandwidth, Youssif added. “Some are 36MHz, 54MHz and some are 72MHz. This has transformed the company into a satellite operator that designs satellites based on requirements for the future.”
ABS will soon conduct an IOT (In Orbit Test) which will last about a month. It is only after clearing the IOT that ABS 2 will be activated for service.
Youssif said: “Currently the satellite is going to be located at 75-degrees East. We have two satellites that are currently positioned there. They are older satellites but still have lifespan left. Once ABS 2 is in place we’ll start migrating the traffic on to it. With migration complete, ABS 2 will be 60% full.
“We’re then going to take the two satellites and move them to different locations, and open new orbital locations. This will then give us six operational satellites, and in the next 18 months we will have two more satellite launches. One scheduled for the end of this year and one for six months after,” he added.
With this rapid expansion, ABS is transforming itself from a local satellite operator, mainly focusing on Asia, to a global player. Its satellites will soon cover most of the planet with the exception of North America.
Once ABS 2 is operational, the operator will launch ABS 3 at 3-degrees West and ABS 2A, which will re-enter the 75-degrees East location to provide ABS’ clients with additional capacity and redundancy.
ABS 2’s launch had been delayed from the original launch date at the end of January.
ABS eyes expansion after launch of ABS 2 satellite | DigitalProductionME.com
