Kuala Lumpur – MEASAT Global Berhad (“MEASAT”) announced on May 26 that the MEASAT-3b launch, earlier scheduled for June 6 GFT (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.

“We are clearly disappointed with the delay and are currently in co-ordination with Arianespace (the launch service provider) on the rescheduling of the launch,” said Paul Brown-Kenyon, Chief Executive Officer, MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. “We will provide an update when we receive further information on the revised launch date,” he continued.

MEASAT-3b is designed to provide an additional 48 high powered Ku-band transponders to the 91.5°E 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 will more than double MEASAT’s Ku-band capacity at 91.5°E creating one of the region’s most powerful and robust orbital locations.