Sun Direct to wait for transponders as Measat 3-b launch delayed till Sept
The wait for direct-to-home (DTH) operator Sun Direct to get additional transponders has got longer as Measat Global Berhad has rescheduled the launch of its new satellite to September.
Measat-3b was scheduled to launch on 6 June but had to be postponed after the manufacturer of the Measat-3b co-passenger requested time for repairs to their satellite.
“The launch of Measat-3b has been postponed to September and we hope to get our transponders in October,” Sun Direct managing director Mahesh Kumar told TelevisionPost.com.
Sun Direct is hoping to hoping to get six to nine transponders once Measat-3b is launched. Currently having four transponders, the DTH company is keen to add over 170 channels, including 20 HD channels.
“We are clearly disappointed with the delay and are currently in co-ordination with Arianespace (the launch service provider) on the rescheduling of the launch. We will provide an update when we receive further information on the revised launch date,” said Measat Satellite Systems CEO Paul Brown-Kenyon.
Measat-3b is designed to provide an additional 48 high-powered Ku-band transponders to the 91.5°E orbital slot to expand DTH and VSAT services across Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Australia.
Co-located with Measat-3 and Measat-3a, the satellite will more than double Measat’s Ku-band capacity at 91.5°E, creating one of the region’s most powerful and robust orbital locations.
Sun Direct to wait for transponders as Measat 3-b launch delayed till Sept | TelevisionPost.com