ABS (satellite operator)


ABS, formerly Asia Broadcast Satellite, is a global satellite operator based in Hong Kong and officially incorporated in Bermuda. 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.
ABS was recognized by the Export-Import Bank of the United States for the purchase of two all-electric satellites and one satellite utilizing conventional propellant using the bank's loans, which created "an estimated 3,700 high tech jobs," according to the bank.
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. 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.

History

ABS, a newly formed satellite operator was founded in 2006 with major shareholder Citigroup Venture Capital International and the financial backing of Asia Debt Management Capital. The company acquired its first satellite, a Lockheed Martin Intersputnik 1 and Lockheed Martin Interputnik Ltd from Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications. 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. 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.ABS #cite note-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 satelliteABS #cite note-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.ABS #cite note-9|
On 21 December 2017, former Boeing executive Jim Simpson succeeded Thomas Choi as new CEO.ABS #cite note-sn-171221-1|

Services

Broadcast ServicesData ServicesAdditional Services
BroadcastingGSM BackhauliDirect
Direct to Home Internet Connectivity DVB-S2
Cable DistributionSCPC Data Links
Video ContributionVSAT Networks
High Definition Maritime Telephony & Data Services
Satellite News Gathering

Satellites

SatelliteBusCOSPAR idLocationRegions servedLaunchComments
ABS-2Loral FS 13002014-006AGlobal band2014/2/6Signed condosat deal with Singtel and branded as ST-3/ABS-2. ABS and KT also signed condosat agreement.
ABS-3Loral FS 13001997-042ASub-Saharan Africa1997/8/19Formerly known as Agila 2 and renamed as ABS-5 then ABS-3. ABS-3 has now retired.
ABS-4Loral FS 13002004-007AGCC and Northern Africa2004/3/13Originally named MBSAT and renamed as ABS-4/Mobisat-1.
ABS-6LM A21001999-053APacific Ocean and Eastern Asia1999/9/26Formerly named LMI 1, Condosat 1. Renamed ABS-1 and redeployed in 2014 as ABS-6.
ABS-7LM A21001997-042APakistan, Afghanistan, North India1999/9/26Originally named Koreasat 3. In May 2010, the satellite was sold to Asia Broadcast Satellite and renamed ABS 7.
ABS-3ABoeing 702SP2015-010AGlobal2015/3/2First all-electric propulsion satellite. Launched, reached target orbit and began operations in September 2015.
ABS-2ABoeing 702SP2016-038AIndia, Southeast Asia, Russia, Sub-Saharan Africa, GCC2016/6/15Second all-electric propulsion satellite launched in 2016. 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.
SatelliteLocationRegions servedLaunchComments
ABS-82017-2018Third all-electric satellite.