Asia Satellite Telecommunications (AsiaSat) yesterday admitted Star TV would contribute less revenue to the company following its migration from AsiaSat 1 to the newly launched AsiaSat 3S.
But AsiaSat believes the new satellite's coverage and capacity will enable the company to reach more customers and reinforce its leading position in the industry.
AsiaSat 3S, the company's fourth satellite, was launched by a Russian Proton rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The all-in launch cost was about US$195 million. AsiaSat 3s, a Hughes HS601HP model, carries 28 C-band and 16 Ku-band linearised transponders and will have a 15-year operational life.
With a single C-band footprint, the new satellite covers 50 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Australasia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
The Ku-band coverage consists of two fixed beams covering South Asia and East Asia, as well as an in-orbit steerable beam.
The new satellite will replace AsiaSat 1.