KUALA LUMPUR: Measat Global Bhd will be launching its sixth satellite, the RM1.2 billion Measat-3B, in French Guiana, South America, in mid-May this year.
Communication and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek (pic, centre) said Measat-3B which covers Malaysia, Indonesia, South Asia and Australia will help to increase connectivity level up by between 10% and 20%, bridging the digital gaps in Malaysia.
“Currently, I would say the connectivity level in Malaysia is around 65%, whereby rural areas still have limited access for communication.
With Measat-3B we can have better and speedy connectivity,” he told the media after visiting Measat Teleport and Broadcast Centre in Cyberjaya yesterday.
The minister also said Measat-3B had 20 to 30 times more capacity than its previous satellites.
“Measat-3B is a powerful satellite that will more than double the current Ku-Band capacity operated by Measat and allow the Malaysian operator to meet the increasing requirements of direct-to-home and telecommunications services in the region,” he said.
Malaysia’s venture into commercial satellite technology started in May 1994, when Binariang Sdn Bhd and Boeing Satellite System signed an agreement for the construction of Malaysia East Asia Satellite (Measat) System.
Measat-1, based on Boeing 376 satellite platform was launched on January 1996 at French Guiana via Arianne 4 rocket. Measat-2 was launched at the same location via a similar rocket some nine months later.
The Measat-3, based on Boeing 601HP satellite platform was launched into space at Baikonur via Proton M rocket on Dec 12, 2006.
The Measat-3A on the other hand was based on Orbital Science’s STAR-2 platform and was launched into space at Baikonur via Zenit-3SLB rocket on June 21, 2009.
Measat-3B is built by EADS Astrium based on Eurostar 3000 platform. All Measat series satellites are still in service. The Measat-1 and Measat-2 are now known as Africasat-1 and Africasat-2.
According to Measat Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd director Mohamed Hanif Omar, Measat-3B is the largest satellite ever ordered and that it is looking to launch Measat-3C in mid-2015 which will eventually bring the number of satellites operating by Measat to seven.
“Measat-3B is completed and being kept in France before it will be launch in May. For Measat-3C we collaborate with an Australian company. Works are on schedule and thus we are confident to launch it next year to provide better and upgraded connectivity to Malaysians as well as Africa, India and across the region,” he said.
Measat-3B is designed to have a launch mass of 5.8 tonnes, and electrical power of 16kW and is planned for an operational lifetime of over 15 years.
As prime contractor for Measat-3B, EADS Astrium is responsible for the design and manufacture of the satellite, and the supply of both payload and platform.
Source Measat-3B to be launched in May | Free Malaysia Today
Communication and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek (pic, centre) said Measat-3B which covers Malaysia, Indonesia, South Asia and Australia will help to increase connectivity level up by between 10% and 20%, bridging the digital gaps in Malaysia.
“Currently, I would say the connectivity level in Malaysia is around 65%, whereby rural areas still have limited access for communication.
With Measat-3B we can have better and speedy connectivity,” he told the media after visiting Measat Teleport and Broadcast Centre in Cyberjaya yesterday.
The minister also said Measat-3B had 20 to 30 times more capacity than its previous satellites.
“Measat-3B is a powerful satellite that will more than double the current Ku-Band capacity operated by Measat and allow the Malaysian operator to meet the increasing requirements of direct-to-home and telecommunications services in the region,” he said.
Malaysia’s venture into commercial satellite technology started in May 1994, when Binariang Sdn Bhd and Boeing Satellite System signed an agreement for the construction of Malaysia East Asia Satellite (Measat) System.
Measat-1, based on Boeing 376 satellite platform was launched on January 1996 at French Guiana via Arianne 4 rocket. Measat-2 was launched at the same location via a similar rocket some nine months later.
The Measat-3, based on Boeing 601HP satellite platform was launched into space at Baikonur via Proton M rocket on Dec 12, 2006.
The Measat-3A on the other hand was based on Orbital Science’s STAR-2 platform and was launched into space at Baikonur via Zenit-3SLB rocket on June 21, 2009.
Measat-3B is built by EADS Astrium based on Eurostar 3000 platform. All Measat series satellites are still in service. The Measat-1 and Measat-2 are now known as Africasat-1 and Africasat-2.
According to Measat Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd director Mohamed Hanif Omar, Measat-3B is the largest satellite ever ordered and that it is looking to launch Measat-3C in mid-2015 which will eventually bring the number of satellites operating by Measat to seven.
“Measat-3B is completed and being kept in France before it will be launch in May. For Measat-3C we collaborate with an Australian company. Works are on schedule and thus we are confident to launch it next year to provide better and upgraded connectivity to Malaysians as well as Africa, India and across the region,” he said.
Measat-3B is designed to have a launch mass of 5.8 tonnes, and electrical power of 16kW and is planned for an operational lifetime of over 15 years.
As prime contractor for Measat-3B, EADS Astrium is responsible for the design and manufacture of the satellite, and the supply of both payload and platform.
Source Measat-3B to be launched in May | Free Malaysia Today
