KUALA LUMPUR: MEASAT Global Bhd (MEASAT) has announced its MEASAT-3b satellite is confirmed for launch on May 28 French Guiana Time (May 29 Kuala Lumpur time), at the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

In a statement today, it said the satellite is designed to provide an additional 48 high-powered Ku-band transponders which function to expand Direct-To-Home and Very Small Aperture Terminal services across Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Australia at the 91.5° East orbital slot.

The new satellite will more than double MEASAT's Ku-band capacity at this orbital location creating one of the region's most powerful and robust orbital locations.

"The satellite will be launched on Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle and co-located with MEASAT-3 and MEASAT-3a," said MEASAT.

- Bernama