Malaysia Satellite Technology

In March 2003, MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. (MEASAT)of Malaysia ordered a high-power commercial communications satellite from Boeing. The new Boeing 601HP satellite, designated MEASAT-3, will join the existing Boeing-built MEASAT-1 and MEASAT-2 spacecraft in the Malaysia-East Asia Satellite (MEASAT) system.

MEASAT-3 will be located at 91.5 degrees East longitude and will provide expansion capacity for MEASAT to meet the increasing market demand for satellite services within the region. Boeing is also providing an upgrade to the MEASAT Teleport and Broadcast Center facilities by assisting in the relocation of MEASAT's control station to Cyberjaya, Malaysian near Kuala Lumpur, as well as training and launch support services.

Scheduled for launch in December 2006, MEASAT-3 will employ 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders, each providing 36 MHz of bandwidth over a 15-year minimum service life. MEASAT-3's C-band payload will cover Africa, Middle East, Asia and Australia. The Ku-band payload has been designed to provide high-powered flexible service options for the development of data services and Direct-to-Home applications in Malaysia, Indonesia, India and China.

The body-stabilized Boeing 601 satellite is the best-selling large spacecraft model in the world. Eighty-two orders for the spacecraft had been received by November 2006.

The Boeing 601 was introduced in 1987 to meet anticipated requirements for high-power, multiple-payload satellites for such applications as direct television broadcasting to small receiving antennas, very small aperture terminals for private business networks, and mobile communications.

Artist rendering of MeaSat 3 satellite shown stowed and deployed.
Stowed (left); In Orbit (right)

A more powerful version, the Boeing 601HP, made its debut in 1995. The HP versions can carry payloads twice as powerful as the classic Boeing 601 models, through such innovations as gallium arsenide solar cells and advanced battery technology. The 601HP features as many as 60 transponders and provides up to 11,000 watts.

All Boeing 601 spacecraft use the same basic bus design, enabling Boeing to realize efficiencies gained by production volume, tooling investments and quantity buys.

MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. is the only licensed commercial satellite operator in Malaysia. MEASAT pioneered the development of high-powered Ku-band Direct-to-Home services into South East Asia with the launch of MEASAT-1 and MEASAT-2 in 1996, providing Cband and Ku-band connectivity spanning India, Asia, Australia and the U.S. via Hawaii.

The Boeing Company is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial communications satellites and a major provider of space systems, satellites, and payloads for national defense, science and environmental applications.