Malaysian satellite operator, MEASAT, has successfully launched the MEASAT-3d satellite today, 22 June 2022 at 6.03pm (French Guiana Time) from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, equivalent to 5.03am on 23 June 2022 in Malaysia.
The launch was witnessed by a group of senior Malaysian government officials, private sector senior executives and MEASAT business partners.
“The team at MEASAT are delighted at today’s successful launch and I would like to thank everyone for their hard work. On behalf of MEASAT, I would also like to thank the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission for their continuous support,” said Yau Chyong Lim, Chief Operating Officer, MEASAT.”
“This successful launch would not have been possible without the collaboration of the personnel at the Ministry and agency. We are committed to driving Malaysia’s national communications vision forward. With MEASAT-3d, we will be better positioned to support the Government’s target to achieve 100% internet access by 2025, by filling the broadband gap in locations without 4G, 5G or fibre coverage,” he added.
“MEASAT-3d will also play an important role in supporting our sister companies. The new satellite will strengthen efforts by Maxis to leverage mobile, fibre, WiFi and satellite communications capabilities to offer a better network experience, even for customers in highly remote locations. In addition, with the restoration of unrivalled in-orbit redundancy via MEASAT-3d, Astro will be able to strengthen its expansion capacity, enabling the next wave of 4K and eventually 8K content to every home in Malaysia,” he said.
Over the next few days, the MEASAT-3d satellite will be raised from a geo-transfer orbit into a geostationary orbit at MEASAT’s key 91.5°E video neighbourhood.
The satellite will then undergo testing for approximately one (1) month, prior to being brought into commercial operations. MEASAT-3d will be co-located with MEASAT-3a and MEASAT-3b at the 91.5°E orbital slot to form one of the region’s most powerful and robust orbital locations.
MEASAT held a live broadcast viewing session at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur on 23 June 2022, in conjunction with the launch in Kourou.
The event was graced by YAB Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Prime Minister of Malaysia and YB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima TPr Annuar Haji Musa, Minister of Communications and Multimedia, and was also attended by other government officials, MEASAT’s business partners and industry stakeholders.
