Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (AsiaSat) and Space Systems Loral (SSL) have announced that the high performance AsiaSat 9 satellite has arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where it will be launched aboard a Proton Breeze M vehicle provided by International Launch Services (ILS).

AsiaSat 9 is the fifth satellite that SSL has provided to AsiaSat. Based on the SSL 1300 platform, the satellite is designed to provide service for 15 years or more. The satellite is currently planned for launch on September 28 at Moscow time 09:50 p.m. (September Baikonur time 00:50 a.m., Hong Kong time 02:50 a.m.).

AsiaSat 9 is a replacement satellite for AsiaSat 4 at 122 degrees East and will provide wider high-power C-band coverage and additional Ku-band capacity for new markets that include Myanmar and Indonesia for DTH TV, broadcast, video distribution, VSAT broadband networks and mobility services across the Asia-Pacific region.

AsiaSat 9 is AsiaSat’s most powerful satellite, designed to deliver significantly improved power and higher bandwidth usage to generate higher efficiency for customers’ services. This is enabled by innovative and unique features including Asia’s highest powered 110 watts C-band TWTA, special filter design to achieve higher throughput up to 23 percent enhancement across wide C-band coverage, star tracker onboard the spacecraft for higher pointing accuracy, along with hall effect thrusters to provide higher sta bility and more efficient satellite operation.

With 32 Ku- and 28 C-band transponders, and a regional Ka-band payload, AsiaSat 9 carries the world’s first dedicated Ku-band Myanmar beam, new high-powered Ku-band beams for Indonesia and Mongolia, in addition to two enhanced Ku-band beams serving Australasia and East Asia. These five Ku-band beams are equipped with cross-strap beam switching capability to provide flexible coverage.

Dario Zamarian, Group President of SSL, noted that AsiaSat 9 incorporates multiple technology advances that pack more power, bandwidth and flexibility into the satellite for the improved coverage and higher communication rates that AsiaSat needs to meet market demand.

Andrew Jordan, President and CEO of AsiaSat, added that his company is committed to providing high quality service to both  existing customers and new users as the firm reaches a new milestone for higher-performance, higher-efficiency and greater flexibility with the new AsiaSat 9.