MEASAT Global Bhd is projecting a revenue growth of 37 per cent this year with the launch of its latest communications satellite, Measat-3b, by the end of the month.
The revenue is expected to double to US$260 million (RM837.2 million) by 2017 from the forecast of US$136 million in 2014, when its Measat-3c satellite is expected to be in orbit.
Measat Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Paul Brown-Kenyon said prior to the launch, Measat-3b has already seen a 50 per cent take-up rate, which he described as quite impressive.
“We have already signed two long-term contracts for Measat-3b, ranging from 10 to 15 years.”
The contracts are with Astro’s Measat Broadcast Network Systems and Australia’s Newsat.
Measat registered a US$99 million revenue and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation of US$49 million from its existing satellite fleet, namely, Measat-3 and Measat-3a, Measat-2, Measat-5 and Africasat-1a.
“By end-2015 or early 2016, we will launch Measat-3c. This brings our 2017 revenue forecast to US$260 million,” he said during a media familiarisation trip to the Measat Teleport and Broadcast Centre, here, yesterday.
Brown-Kenyon said the Measat-3b is the company’s largest satellite to date and it will expand Measat’s broadcasting and telecommunications satellite services in Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and South Asia.
Measat-3b, with a lifespan of 15 years, has 48 transponders each providing 36 megahertz (Mhz) of bandwidth, bringing the company’s Ku-band satellite capacity to 84 transponders from 36 currently.
The US$350 million satellite is built by Boeing Satellite Systems and is currently at the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, with launch scheduled for May 29.
The Measat-3b and Measat-3c satellites will be co-located with the Measat-3 and Measat-3a satellites at the company’s key orbital hotslot at 91.5 degrees east.
“This will create Asia’s most robust and reliable satellite orbital location,” he said.
Currently, the company operates capacity across five satellites with a network reaching 150 countries, representing 80 per cent of the world’s population.
Brown-Kenyon said the company is focused on continuous growth through fleet expansion with the launch of one satellite every one or two years.
“Besides Measat-3c, we are already planning three new satellites, namely Measat-2a, Measat-3d and Africasat-1b,” he added.