Plans by APT Satellite Holdings to develop a US$300 million direct broadcasting satellite (DBS) business moved forward yesterday with the successful in-orbit testing of its Apstar-IIR satellite.
President He Kerang said commercial operation of the satellite was due to begin soon, and the successful launch of Apstar-IIR paved the way for the company to expand its share of the market.
Apstar-IIR is APT's third successful satellite launch.
The satellite had a lease-out rate of about 50 per cent before the launch. It is expected to grow about 70 per cent next year.
Its C band transponder costs about $2 million a year to lease, while the Ku band costs about $3 million a year.
The company's next project will be the DBS Apstar IIID, expected to be launched in 2000.