ABS-2 satellite successfully launched

Asia Broadcast Satellite’s ABS-2 satellite successfully launched into space yesterday from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana.

The satellite, which will expand capacity at ABS’s prime location of 75 degrees East, launched on an Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle.

ABS-2 was manufactured by Space Systems/Loral and has up to 89 active C, Ku and Ka-band transponders across 10 different beams.

It will provide multiple services, including direct-to-home and cable television distribution, VSAT, data networks and telecommunications. It will provide coverage in the Middle East and North Africa, Russia, India, South Korea and South East Asia.

“Our customers are looking forward to the new capacity on ABS-2 at 75E, a new state of the art satellite serving the Eastern hemisphere,” said Tom Choi, CEO of ABS.

“The ABS-2 satellite will significantly contribute towards our expansion plans and is part of our growth strategy to increase the ABS satellite fleet and and becoming a global satellite operator in the coming years.”

The launch was the 58th successful take-off in a row for Europe’s Ariane 5 launcher and was the first Ariane 5 launch in 2014.