Astro group CEO Datuk Rohana Rozhan said in the statement:
KUALA LUMPUR: Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd
will pay US$22.5mil (RM87.2mil) cash to Measat Global Bhd to use the transponder capacity on the Measat-3b satellite.
The pay-TV operator said on Thursday its unit Measat Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd (MBNS) had inked an agreement with Measat International (South Asia) Ltd (MISAL) for the usage of the capacity.
At present, MBNS leases 18 transponders on the M3b satellite from MISAL. Now, MISAL will supply an additional six transponders to MBNS for 12 years from June 8, 2018 until June 11, June 2030.
This includes the right for MBNS to use the necessary frequencies to uplink and downlink signals for services provided by MBNS to its subscribers, including for near video on demand (NVOD), video-on-demand services (VOD), transmissions to WiFi hotspots for over-the-top content, and as backup to its existing transponders on the M3b satellite.
MBNS has the option to put one or more of the transponders to MISAL to sub-lease to third party customers.
“The new bandwidth from the additional transponders could be used to offer a more diverse near video on demand services and to optimise video streaming infrastructure through push video on demand for AMH and accordingly improve its service offering to its customers.
“The proposed utilisation is also intended to act as back-up capacity in the event of a breakdown in any of the Astro Malaysia group’s existing transponders currently utilised on M3b satellite,” it said.
MBNS’s transponder capacity to be utilised for its services will increase from 36 transponders to 42 transponders.
The Astrium SAS built M3b satellite consists of 48 Ku-band transponders. The Ku-band transponders feature high equivalent isotropic radiated power levels over Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Australia.
The Malaysia payload consists of 24 simultaneously operable Ku-band transponders with each channel having a usable bandwidth of 36 MHz and travelling wave tube amplifiers power of 130 Watts.
Astro said the satellite is located at 91.5 degreees E longitude in the geosynchronous orbit.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
