Asia Broadcasting to invest $300 million to beef up satellite business

MANILA, Philippines - Hong Kong-based Asia Broadcasting Systems (ABS) is investing around $300 million to beef up its satellite business, even as it announced that it is transferring control of $800-million worth of satellite equipment to its Subic facility this year.

The company likewise revealed plans to beef up its workforce by over 50 percent over two years.

Following the merging of ABS and formerly PLDT-controlled Mabuhay Satellite Corp., ABS said that control of its five satellites will now be based in the Philippines.

The Subic facility will now serve as the ABS’ main satellite operating center.

These satellites include ABS 1, ABS 1-A, ABS 2, ABS 5 and ABS 6, which serve the firm’s markets in Asia Pacific, Russia, Africa and in the Atlantic.

ABS chief executive Tom Choi added that they are investing over $5 million for training, staffing and additional infrastructure of its ground facility in Subic.

“The investment will include new control equipment, new software, big antennas and satellite control equipments that will all be located in our Subic control center,” he said.

An additional $300 million will also be spent for another satellite, replacing the Agila 2 that will retire in five years.

“In short, an $800-million worth of satellite equipment will be controlled in our operating center in Subic,” he said.

ABS said it will increase its workforce by 50 percent, with a minimum of 20 new employees to be hired this year and the rest next year.

“Our investments in the Philippines will be long term,” he said.

ABS said its main clients in the country are telecommunication and broadcasting firms, including Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Co., Bayan Telecommunications Inc., GMA Network and ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.

Last Nov., ABS signed an agreement for the purchase of Mabuhay Satellite’s business.

“ABS will maintain all of Mabuhay’s operations in the Philippines and the staff will be integrated with the ABS team,” Choi said.

After the merging, revenues coming from the Philippines now constitute 15 to 20 percent of its total revenues, he added.