SES deploys satellite in bid to boost DTH reach in Asia Pacific

MANILA, Philippines — SES, a world-leading satellite operator, is set to launch today (June 1) a satellite that would further expand its business in the Asia Pacific market.

Barring any weather disturbances, SES, together with SpaceX, will send into orbit SES-12, which is uniquely designed with a state-of-the-art traditional wide beam and a high throughput capability to provide satellite communications services across the Asia Pacific region.

Based on the fact sheet released to the media who will attend the satellite launch in SpaceX’s Cape Canaveral facility in Florida, SES-12 will carry a payload of six wide beams and 72 high throughput user spot beams, making SES-12 one of the largest geostationary (GEO) satellites that SES has ever built.

Specifically, SES-12 will be launched on Falcon 9 Block 5, SpaceX’s next generation rocket booster. The satellite will use electric propulsion to bring it to its orbit at 36,000 kilometers above the equator and subsequent on-orbit manuevers.

If launched successfully, SES-12 will join the Luxembourg-based company’s network of seven GEO satellites and 16 medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites that provide unparalleled coverage to over 20 countries in Asia-Pacific.

Designed by Airbus Defense and Space, SES-12 features the best of both wide beams and high throughput spot beams to serve diverse connectivity needs. The satellite will provide expansion and replacement capacity to serve the data, mobility, government, and video sectors in the region. It is expected to operate for 15 years in geostationary orbit.

With high throughput capability that enable the rapid transmission of massive amounts of data, the soon-to-be-launched satellite is SES’s answer to soaring connectivity demand in the aviation industry, especially from Asia-Pacific, where the number of connected aircraft will increase from more than 1,000 in 2017 to over 5,500 by 2026.

SES expects the Asia Pacific region to be the world’s third largest in terms of connected aircraft, after North America and Europe.

Over the next decade, high throughput satellites (HTS) such as SES-12 are also anticipated to be a driving force behind the steady roll-out of connected vessels and cruise liners. The total number of maritime in-service terminal in Asia will more than double from 73,000 in 2017 to over 175,000 by 2026.

SES is also anticipating that within the next 10 years, Asia will witness the largest growth in enterprise VSAT (very small aperture terminal) sites at seven percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach almost one million by 2026.

“Governments who want to bridge the digital divide and launch connectivity programs will be the key growth driver, followed by banking, and SES-12 will be key in meeting this demand. With over one billion people lacking 3G/4G coverage, Asia will lead the cellular backhaul via satellite growth,” the company said.

SES-12, in combination with SES-8, will reach 18 million TV homes from its 95°E orbital position. The satellite provides pay-TV operators the reliability and scalability to deliver higher quality, richer and more immersive end-user experiences; anytime, anywhere, and on any screen. SES-12’s spot beams will also enable broadcasters to bring localized video content to specific cities and provinces in a cost-effective manner.

Today, SES leads the direct-to-home (DTH) market in the Asia-Pacific region, where it carries the highest number of pay DTH channels (almost 1,000 channels). When launched, SES-12 will join seven other SES satellites to reach 32 million Asia-Pacific TV homes from two prime video neighbourhoods at 95°E and 108.2°E.

It was in 1999 when SES acquired a stake in Hong Kong-based satellite operator AsiaSat and took a foothold in Asia and the Pacific region.In the same year, SES put up regional headquarters in Singapore.

In July 2016, SES also partnered with the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, and non-governmental organisation (NGO) German Doctors for the launch of a satellite-based e-health platform SATMED in the Philippines.

The SATMED solution was deployed at the German Doctors’ hospital in Buda, Marilog District, Davao City.