AsiaSat’s Strategic Partnership Hints at New Direction
April 4, 2013
AsiaSat has signed a significant deal with GeoMetWatch, which will see the satellite operator host the first of six Sounding & Tracking Observatory for Regional Meteorology (STORMTM) instruments on board a new satellite planned to be launched by AsiaSat in 2016. The deal allows AsiaSat to go in a new direction, and shows the operator’s willingness to look for more creative deals.
AsiaSat, which grew its revenues by 10 percent last year, and profits by 11 percent, is looking at ways in which it can diversify its revenue base. Hosted payload type deals are definitely on the agenda for the operator. In an interview with Via Satellite last month, AsiaSat CEO William Wade admitted he saw hosted payload type deals as a possibility for the operator, and strongly hinted that potential partnerships were in the pipeline for the operator. He said, “I think there are opportunities for hosted payloads in Asia and we are exploring them. In Asia, hosted payloads so far have mainly been for military applications. So, hosted payloads have gone on domestic satellites that are controlled by a domestic or government operator. We are un-attached to any sovereign government so I would not anticipate that is something AsiaSat would participate in. There are however other hosted payload opportunities that we are considering and we should see more and more hosting opportunities. But, the military and defence related hosted payloads are being reserved for the domestic operators where the governments have tighter control.”
Ironically, Wade also hinted that a hosting deal regarding in the weather or navigation arena was also a possibility. When asked what area a hosted payload type deal could be done, he added, “Anything from imaging, to weather, and navigational payloads, Ka or L-band payloads with specific applications and projects associated with them. There have been discussions along those lines with various entities across Asia. Specific applications that could justify a dedicated payload hosted on one of our satellites is definitely a possibility.”
GeoMetWatch’s partnership with AsiaSat is a significant step towards the implementation of its global geostationary hyperspectral sounder constellation, according to David Crain, CEO of GeoMetWatch. The first STORM sensor will provide atmospheric and weather data over Asia and the Pacific region.
AsiaSat has a busy year ahead and is getting to set to launch its AsiaSat 6 and AsiaSat 8 satellites in the first half of next year, bring a lot of new capacity online. AsiaSat 6, which is being built by Space Systems Loral (SSL) will serve Asia, the Middle East, and Australasia, and will have 28 high-power C-band transponders. AsiaSat 8, which is also being built by SSL, will have 24 Ku-band transponders and a Ka-band beam. The high-power transponders will enable the use of small antennas on the ground. The company could also look to form strategic partnerships with other operators going forward. Wade adds, “We continue to look for opportunities to expand our business through acquisition or partnerships. In the past year, we were successful in securing a partnership in Thailand which provided access to the 120 degrees East orbital location to develop new markets. We hope to be able to conclude more of these co-operation agreements, and offer new opportunities for expansion into different areas. We have a significant cash balance on our books and will look to utilize this to explore possibilities for consolidation.”
Statistics: Posted by Red — Fri Apr 05, 2013 11:34 am