Hong Kong-based international carrier to build 13-meter antenna for dedicated access to New Skies’ new NSS-6 pan-Asian satellite
New Skies Satellites N.V. (AEX,
NYSE: NSK), the global satellite communications company, and REACH, Asia’s
largest international carrier of combined voice, private line and IP data
services, have signed an agreement that will combine the capabilities of New
Skies’ newly launched NSS-6 pan-Asian satellite and REACH’s world-class
satellite gateway in Hong Kong.
Under the terms of the agreement, REACH will install a 13-meter Ku-band
antenna at its Hong Kong gateway, providing dedicated access to New Skies’
NSS-6 satellite for the delivery of voice, video, data and Internet services
throughout the Asia Pacific.
The NSS-6 spacecraft was launched on December 18, 2002 and is located at the
strategic position of 95 degrees east longitude, where it covers more than
half of the world’s landmass, from the Middle East to Japan, and two-thirds
of the world’s population. In-orbit testing on NSS-6 is on schedule and the
satellite is expected to commence commercial services shortly.
REACH is the only teleport operator with a genuine pan-Asian presence via
two major hubs, including the Hong Kong gateway, and this agreement will
further enhance its position as one of Asia’s leading connectivity
providers.
“This deal with REACH will give our customers a real advantage,” said
Maurice Liu, New Skies’ senior sales director, Asia Pacific. “REACH’s
strategically located and well-established teleport facility, combined with
our state-of-the art NSS-6 pan-Asian satellite will give New Skies’
customers access to the region’s best technical resources for transmissions
from a major Asian business center to any location between Southern Africa
and the Middle East across to Japan and Australia.”
Rob Kenny, REACH’s commercial director, said the agreement represents a
significant expansion of the company’s already extensive Ku-band teleport
service capability. “Through the combined resources of the powerful new
NSS-6 satellite and the largest commercial satellite teleport complex in
Asia, REACH and New Skies can offer tailored voice, video, Internet and data
transmission services across Asia and around the world,” he said.
NSS-6 is an A2100AX model satellite built by Lockheed Martin Commercial
Space Systems and is equipped with 60 x 36 MHz-equivalent Ku-band
transponders. From the prime orbital slot at 95 degrees east longitude,
NSS-6’s six broad Ku-band beams will offer coverage of India, China, the
Middle East (including Cyprus and Southern Africa), Australia, Southeast
Asia and Northeast Asia.
The agreement with REACH builds on New Skies’ comprehensive strategy of
partnering with leading teleport operators throughout the world for the
global transmission and distribution of customer broadcast feeds, cable
programming, IP traffic and voice and data services.
In addition to REACH, New Skies has also signed agreements with
Singapore-based ST Teleport and the United Kingdom’s Kingston inmedia. In
the United States, New Skies has partnered with WilTel Communications for
services through its Los Angeles teleport, and with Verestar, which operates
an international gateway in Brewster, Washington. The company also operates
its wholly owned Washington mediaport, which provides access to the Americas
and offers co-location facilities as well as local loop connectivity to
several major metro video hubs and a North American fiber network. Together,
the facilities compose a worldwide mediaport network providing first-class
connectivity to New Skies’ global satellite fleet, one of the industry’s
most reliable networks.
About REACH
REACH is a 50-50 joint venture between Hong Kong-based PCCW Limited and
Australia’s Telstra Corporation Limited. It is Asia’s largest international
carrier of combined voice, private line and IP data services. It is also one
of the world’s top ten carriers of international voice traffic. REACH’s
products and services include an extensive portfolio of voice, data, IP and
satellite connectivity. The company has interests in more than 50 submarine
cable and satellite systems (including Asia’s largest teleport), and
operating licenses and landing rights in most major markets including Hong
Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, North America and Europe.
REACH is headquartered in Hong Kong, with a significant presence in
Australia and substantial businesses across Asia, North America and Europe.
The company posted annualized revenue for fiscal 2001 of US$1.396 billion
and EBITDA US$434 million. For further information, please visit
www.reach.com
About New Skies Satellites
New Skies Satellites (AEX, NYSE: NSK) is one of only four fixed satellite
communications companies with truly global satellite coverage, offering
video, voice, data and Internet communications services to a range of
telecommunications carriers, broadcasters, large corporations and Internet
service providers around the world. New Skies has six satellites in orbit
and ground facilities around the world. The company has one additional
spacecraft under construction, which is planned to serve the Americas from a
new orbital location. The company also has secured certain rights to make
use of additional orbital positions, including four serving the Americas.
New Skies is headquartered in The Hague, The Netherlands, and has offices in
Beijing, Johannesburg, New Delhi, São Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and
Washington, D.C. Additional information is available at www.newskies.com.