Airbus Defence and Space, the world’s second largest space company, has successfully concluded in-orbit trials with MEASAT-3b. One month after launch, the satellite is now ready to enter commercial service and has been officially handed over to its operator, MEASAT.

Since MEASAT-3b was launched by Ariane 5 on 11 September, Airbus Defence and Space in Toulouse has been leading the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) operations and carrying out in-orbit trials. Tests on the telecommunications payload were carried out at the MEASAT facilities in Cyberjaya, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from where the satellite will be controlled during its operational life, expected to be more than 15 years.

MEASAT-3b is the largest satellite ever to have been ordered by the Asian operator MEASAT. It has been placed in geostationary orbit at 91.5° East, and is co-located with MEASAT-3 and MEASAT-3a satellites. Together, they will make up Asia’s most robust Direct-To-Home (DTH) satellite television neighbourhood. With 48 transponders in Ku band, MEASAT-3b will support demand for video and data services across Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Australia.

MEASAT-3b is based on Airbus Defence and Space’s proven and reliable Eurostar E3000 satellite platform. Since 2004, 34 satellites of this type have been successfully launched and are all in operation.