The China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) will launch APSTAR V, a high-power satellite to be made by the US-based Space Systems/Loral Inc., in February 2003.
Three agreements regarding the satellite, which will replace APSTAR I, to expire in mid-2004, were signed in Hong Kong Monday.
The APT Satellite Company Limited, or APT(HK), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Asia's leading satellite transponder service provider APT Satellite Holdings Limited, signed the Satellite Procurement Agreement with the Space Systems/Loral (SS/L).
Under the agreement, SS/L will provide APT(HK) with the design, manufacturing, tests and delivery of APSTAR V and is responsible for obtaining all necessary export permits for APSTAR V.
Under the agreement struck with APT(HK), CGWIC will provide the launch services for APSTAR V with the LM-3B launch vehicle at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in February 2003. The commercial operation will take place in the first quarter of 2003.
The total project cost of APSTAR V, which includes the costs of the satellite, launch service, launch insurance, ground facilities for telemetry, tracking and control, related expenses and capitalized interest, will amount to about US$230 million, which will be funded by bank loan and internal resources of the APT Satellite Holdings Limited.
The APT (HK) and the Singapore Telecommunications Limited(SingTel) signed a lease agreement for the leasing of 15 C-band transponders of APSTAR V for the life of the satellite.
Upon completion, SingTel can either use the transponders capacity itself or lease it to its customers.
The total lease price, in present value upon commencement of commercial operation, which is expected in the first quarter of year 2003, totals US$112 million.
APSTAR V, with an expected mission life of more than 13 years, has 38 C-band and 16 Ku-band transponders to provide broadcasting and telecommunications services. It will be located at the geostationary orbital slot 138 degrees east.
The footprint of C-band transponders will cover substantially all of the Asian countries in the Asia Pacific region while those of the Ku-band transponders will cover China and other parts of East Asia and Guam.
(Xinhua 01/08/2001)
