Two telecommunications satellites – one Indian and one Malaysian – have been successfully placed into geostationary orbit by the Ariane 5 launcher, operated by satellite launch company Arianespace.
The MEASAT-3d was launched on behalf of the Malaysian satellite operator MEASAT. GSAT-24 was built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on behalf of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Government of India company within the Department of Space (DOS).
Mission VA257, as this launch is known, will, says Arianespace, improve broadband coverage in the Asia-Pacific region.
MEASAT-3d, to be co-located with MEASAT-3a and MEASAT-3b in the 91.5°E orbital slot, is a multi-mission telecommunications satellite built by Airbus Defence and Space. It will significantly enhance broadband speeds of up to 100 Mbps per user in areas with limited or no terrestrial network throughout Malaysia, while continuing to provide redundancy and additional capacity for video distribution in HD, 4K, and ultimately 8K, in the Asia-Pacific region. MEASAT-3d will also carry a payload on behalf of the Korean operator KTSAT.
GSAT-24 is a Ku-band 4-ton-class communications satellite. It will provide high-quality television, telecommunications and broadcasting services across India. It is described as the first ‘demand driven’ communications satellite mission undertaken by NSIL.
