Launch carrying MEASAT-3b delayed

MEASAT Global Bhd (MEASAT) today announced that the MEASAT-3b launch, earlier scheduled for June 6 (June 7 Kuala Lumpur time) has been postponed.

The postponement was called after the manufacturer of the MEASAT-3b co-passenger requested time for repairs to their satellite, it said in a statement.

"We are clearly disappointed with the delay and are currently in coordination with Arianespace (the launch service provider) on the rescheduling of the launch.

"We will provide an update when we receive further information on the revised launch date," said MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd CEO, Paul Brown-Kenyon.

MEASAT-3b is designed to provide an additional 48 high powered Ku-band transponders to the 91.5E orbital slot to expand Direct-To-Home and VSAT services across Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Australia.

Co-located with MEASAT-3 and MEASAT-3a, the satellite would be more than double MEASAT's Ku-band capacity at 91.5E creating one of the region's most powerful and robust orbital locations.