25 September 2009 GT Satellite Systems S.A. (GTSS) and Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) announced that they have signed a long term, multiple transponder deal which would provide GTSS with expansion capacity on the new ABS-2 satellite scheduled to be launched in 2012.
As part of the multi-year contract, GTSS will significantly expand its existing capacity on ABS-1 by leasing multiple Ku-band transponders on the powerful ABS-2 Russia/CIS Beam for further expansion of its TV distribution services from the most popular CATV channels location in Russia, and its newly launched Raduga TV DTH platform.
ABS-2 will be co-located with ABS-1 at 75 degrees East Longitude. ABS-2 will be the most powerful commercial satellite ever launched in the Asia Pacific region with nearly 14 KW of payload power and up to 78 active C-band, Ku-band and Ka-band transponders across 8 different beams. It is designed for 15 years of operational life. The ABS-2 spacecraft will be manufactured by Space Systems/Loral and launched with Arianespace.
GTSS, a dynamic Luxembourg-based group offers, together with its Russian subsidiaries, innovative satellite products and a wide range of services on delivery, postproduction and distribution of TV and radio programs, satellite Internet and data transmission, provision of communication channels, production and distribution of pay- TV content across Russia, CIS and Baltic states. Its TV and Radio broadcasting and distribution activities concentrated on 75 East position, showed continuous growth since 2005, when GTSS started to load ABS-1 Northern beam, to become the biggest Satellite TV platform for cable operators and broadcasters in Russia since 2007. In 2009 GTSS added fast growing Raduga TV DTH offer to its spectrum of services.
Tom Choi, Chief Executive Officer of ABS, commented We are currently providing GTSS with capacity on our Northern Ku-band Beam on ABS-1. This agreement for additional capacity on ABS-2 is a testament to our close, long-term, strategic relationship with GTSS and our desire to support and work more closely with GTSS to successfully develop future opportunities in this key market. At 75EL, our unique Russia/CIS Beam is the most ideal for operators and their customers covering almost all of the Russian and CIS territories with high power Ku-band coverage.
GTSS ABS agreement concerning ABS-2 capacity is extremely positive for the future development of our TV platform services. It gives us a clear perspective of increasing the number of TV and Radio channels in our packages, adding HD channels to our Cable and DTH distribution offer. We consider ABS our reliable partner, and look forward for further mutually beneficial relations with them, said Philippe Cahen, Managing Director of GT Satellite Systems S.A. Luxembourg.
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About GTSS GROUP
GT Satellite Systems (GTSS) is a Luxembourg-based operator of 18 transponders on four communications satellites covering all Europe and most of Asia, including Russia and the CIS. Among them there are 8 Ku band transponders on the ABS-1Northern Beam, at the 75 EL orbit location, 5 C band transponders on Express satellites at 80 EL, 96,5EL and 140EL, 1 Ku band transponder (FSS) on Sirius 4 at the 25 EL orbital location. Additionally 4 Ku band transponders will be available on Express AM4 satellite at 80EL that will be launched in 2011. GTSS provides Fixed Satellite Services as well as Media Services to national and international customers throughout Russia and the CIS.
Russian based subsidiaries hold 3 up-to-date teleports in Moscow directly linked via optical infrastructure to main access nodes. GTSS subsidiaries run teleports based across Russian territory in Magadan, Yakutsk, Yujno-Sakhalinsk, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy. Their services include ultimate solutions for television and radio broadcasting companies, users of trunk communication channels and broadband Internet. Main teleport in Moscow offers play-out services for TV channels, post-production, encryption and other services.
For more information, please visit the Companys website at www.gtss.ru
About Asia Broadcast Satellite
Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) is one of Asias most valued and premium satellite operators. Located at 75E, ABS-1 connects 4/5th of the worlds population covering all of Asia, the CIS region, the Middle East, most of Africa and Eastern Europe.
Leveraging its extensive coverage and operating state of the art, redundant teleport facilities in both Hong Kong and Germany, ABS is able to strategically and effectively offer a broad range of End-to-End solutions including CATV distribution, Direct to Home, Cellular Backhaul, VSAT and Internet Backbone services with diverse IP transit through its European and Asian internet gateways. ABS currently host over 100 channels on ABS-1, making it as one of the fastest growing and top satellite distribution platform for CATV distribution in the Indian Ocean Region.
ABS is rapidly expanding its satellite fleet and business worldwide through the recent acquisition of an in orbit satellite, designated as ABS-1A, that will be relocated from its current orbital location to 75EL location. In addition, ABS has completed the procurement process for a new state-of-the-art high powered satellite, ABS-2, that is scheduled to become operational during the first half of 2012. The ABS-2 satellite will be one of the largest FSS satellites to be launched over the Eastern Hemisphere with 78 active transponders delivering over 14 kW of payload power. Together with ABS-1, the 75 E will be the most powerful orbital position in the Asia Pacific / Indian Ocean region with over 22kW of power and expansive coverage with 122 active C, Ku and Ka-band transponders.
