ABS (satellite operator)

ABS, formerly Asia Broadcast Satellite, is a global satellite operator based in Hong Kong and officially incorporated in Bermuda.[3] Its services include direct-to-home and satellite-to-cable TV distribution, cellular services, and internet services. Operating 6 communication satellites, the satellite fleet currently covers 93% of the world's population including the Americas, Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States.[4]

This article is about the satellite operator company. For other uses, see ABS.
ABS
TypePrivate (Majority owned by Permira)
IndustrySatellite communication
Founded2006
HeadquartersHamilton, Bermuda
Key people
Jim Frownfelter (CEO)[1]
OwnerPermira[2]
Websitewww.absatellite.com

ABS was recognized by the Export-Import Bank of the United States for the purchase of two all-electric satellites (ABS-2A and ABS-3A) and one satellite (ABS-2) utilizing conventional propellant using the bank's loans, which created "an estimated 3,700 high tech jobs," according to the bank.[5]

Originally founded as in 1996 as Asia Broadcast Satellite, the company was renamed "ABS" in 2014.

In September 2012, the CEO of ABS received the "Satellite Executive of the Year in Asia Pacific Award" by APSCC (Asia Pacific Satellite Communications Council). The following year, Via Satellite announced the CEO of ABS as the "Satellite Executive of the year 2012".

In 2017, the co-founder and CEO of ABS, Thomas Choi, was inducted into the "Satellite Hall of Fame, 2017" by the Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI).[6][7]

History

ABS, a newly formed satellite operator was founded in 2006[8] with major shareholder Citigroup Venture Capital International (CVCI) and the financial backing of Asia Debt Management Capital (ADM). The company acquired its first satellite, a Lockheed Martin Intersputnik 1 (LMI-1, a high powered Lockheed Martin A2100 AX satellite, in 2006, from Lockheed Martin Space Communications Ventures, Ltd (LMSCV) and Lockheed Martin Interputnik Ltd (LMI) from Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications (LMGT). LMI-1 satellite was renamed ABS-1.

In July 2009, KT Corporation and ABS signed the sale and purchased of the Koreasat-2 satellite. As a result of the transaction, the Koreasat-2 was renamed as ABS-1A.

In November 2009, ABS acquired the sale and purchase of the business Mabuhay Satellite Corporation (MSC). This transaction included the Agila-2 satellite renamed to ABS-5 and MSC Subic Space Centre renamed to Subic Broadcast Center.

In addition, on 16 Nov 2009, ABS signed a strategic agreement with Eutelsat for a commercial cooperation at the 75°EL. EUROBIRD™ 4 satellite was renamed W75/ABS-1B and injected an additional eight Ku-band transponders to 75° East to address markets in the Middle East, central Asia and Russia.

In less than 12 months – on 24 May 2010, ABS and KT Corporation completed their second successful execution of the agreement for the sale and purchase of the Koreasat-3 satellite which was subsequently renamed as ABS-7.

In September 2010, Permira, a global private equity fund, acquired ABS.[7]

In November 2012 the US Export-Import Bank approved $461m of financing for ABS to support the expansion of the company using US manufactured satellites and launch vehicles.

On Feb 2014, ABS-2 was successfully launched as the largest satellite in the eastern hemisphere.

By March 2, 2015, ABS-3A, the first of a pair of all-electric commercial satellite[8] was launched on a Falcon 9 alongside Eutelsat 115 West B, operated by Eutelsat. On 15 June 2016 ABS launched its second all-electric satellite, ABS-2A and with a Eutelsat satellite, on Falcon 9 Flight 26.[9]

On 21 December 2017, former Boeing executive Jim Simpson succeeded Thomas Choi as new CEO.[1]

Services
Broadcast Services Data Services Additional Services
Broadcasting GSM Backhaul iDirect
Direct to Home (DTH) Internet Connectivity (IPLC) DVB-S2
Cable Distribution SCPC Data Links
Video Contribution VSAT Networks (TDM / TDMA & DVB-S2 ACM)
High Definition (HDTV) Maritime Telephony & Data Services
Satellite News Gathering (SNG)

Satellites
Satellite Bus COSPAR id Location Regions served Launch Comments
ABS-2 Loral FS 1300 2014-006A 75°E Global band 2014/2/6 Signed condosat deal with Singtel and branded as ST-3/ABS-2. ABS and KT also signed condosat agreement.
ABS-3 Loral FS 1300 1997-042A 3°W Sub-Saharan Africa 1997/8/19 Formerly known as Agila 2 and renamed as ABS-5 then ABS-3. ABS-3 has now retired.
ABS-4 Loral FS 1300 2004-007A 61°E GCC and Northern Africa 2004/3/13 Originally named MBSAT and renamed as ABS-4/Mobisat-1.
ABS-6 LM A2100 1999-053A 159°E Pacific Ocean and Eastern Asia 1999/9/26 Formerly named LMI 1, Condosat 1. Renamed ABS-1 and redeployed in 2014 as ABS-6.
ABS-7 LM A2100 1997-042A 116.1°E Pakistan, Afghanistan, North India 1999/9/26 Originally named Koreasat 3. In May 2010, the satellite was sold to Asia Broadcast Satellite and renamed ABS 7.
ABS-3A Boeing 702SP 2015-010A 3°W Global 2015/3/2 First all-electric propulsion satellite. Launched, reached target orbit and began operations in September 2015.[9]
ABS-2A Boeing 702SP 2016-038A 75°E India, Southeast Asia, Russia, Sub-Saharan Africa, GCC 2016/6/15 Second all-electric propulsion satellite launched in 2016.[10][11] The satellite was funded by a US Ex-Im bank loan to expand high-tech US jobs; the loan also funded the ABS-3A.

Planned future satellites

ABS has one future satellite, ABS-8 scheduled for launch sometime between 2017 or 2018; it will replace ABS-7.

Satellite Location Regions served Launch Comments
ABS-8 116.1°E 2017-2018 Third all-electric satellite.[12][13]

References
  1. Henry, Caleb (21 December 2017). "ABS picks Jim Simpson as CEO - SpaceNews.com". SpaceNews.com. SpaceNews.com. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  2. "Permira buys satellite operator ABS for $200 mln -sources". Reuters. September 13, 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  3. Forrester, Chris (October 30, 2017). "Choi quits at ABS Hong Kong". advanced-television.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  4. "Revolutionary ABS-3A Launched". Asia Broadcast Satellite. 1 March 2015. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  5. Formella, Linda (24 April 2014). "Asia Broadcast Satellite Wins Ex-Im Bank 2014 Deal of the Year". Export-Import Bank of the United States. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  6. "Thomas Choi Inducted into the Satellite Hall of Fame, Class of 2017". March 15, 2017.
  7. "Hall of Fame - Thomas Choi". sspi.org. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  8. "Company Overview of Asia Broadcast Satellite Limited". Bloomberg Business. Bloomberg. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  9. B. de Selding, Peter (10 September 2015). "ABS All-electric Satellite Arrives Early at Operating Orbit". SpaceNews. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  10. Clark, Stephen (12 March 2014). "Boeing reveals government's all-electric satellite purchase". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  11. Mission events timeline for Falcon 9’s launch for ABS and Eutelsat Spaceflight Now Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  12. B. de Selding, Peter (31 May 2015). "Peter B. de Selding". SpaceNews. Twitter. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  13. B. de Selding, Peter (1 June 2015). "ABS Teaming with Boeing, SpaceX for another Electric Satellite". SpaceNews. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
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