Thales Alenia Space will design, manufacture and deliver a high-capacity telecommunication satellite, Apsat 7B, for the APT Satellite Company.

The contract also includes launch, early operational phases, in-orbit tests, on-site support, dynamic satellite simulation, satellite control and a baseband subsystem.

Apstar 7B will provide broadcasting and telecommunications services over the Asia Pacific Region, the Middle East and North Africa and act as back-up satellite for Apstar-7 launch currently being built by Thales Alenia.

The satellite, with a design life of 15 years, will be modelled on the firm’s Spacebus 4000 C2 platform and will have the technical characteristics of Apstar 7.