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Further Reading

APStar

A late-arriving competitor to Asiasat is Hong Kong-based APT (Asia Pacific Telecommunications) Satellite Company, Ltd's APStar network. Sponsored by the Government of ChinaAPStar as a rival to the Asiasat system, APT Satellite is a consortium of four regional companies, with three of four founding members being Chinese state-owned entities. APT Satellite Company was formed in 1992 by the China Yuan Wang (Group) Corp., China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corp. (ChinaSat), Ever-Victory System Company, and the Chia Thai Group of Thailand.

APT Satellite Co. moved rapidly from its formation in 1992 to the launch of APStar 1 on 21 July 1994 by a Chinese CZ-3. The Hughes HS-376 spacecraft was outfitted with 24, low-power (16W) C-band transponders. To cover the East Asian region (PRC, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam), APStar 1 was to have been located at 131 degrees E. However, concerns raised by Japan and Tonga about interference with spacecraft already in the 130-131 degree E area forced APStar to begin operations at 138 degrees E under a lease arrangement with Tonga (References 83-88).

In late 1993 APT Satellite Co. signed a contract with Hughes to provide an HS-601 model spacecraft for launch as APStar 2 in 1994, although the launch was later delayed until early 1995. APStar 2 was to carried a total of 34 transponders: 26 52-W C-band, 6 50-W Ku-band, and 2 120-W Ku-band (References 84 and 89). APSTAR II was launched on 26 January 1995, on a Long March 2E rocket from Xichang, China, but it was destroyed in an explosion shortly after liftoff.

APT Satellite Holding is planning a direct broadcasting system service in China, pending approval from the authorities. APT Satellite plans to spend around $300 million for the direct broadcasting system in China, which allows improved reception of satellite information with smaller antennae. APT is seeking approval for the service from the Ministry of Broadcasting, Film, and Television in Beijing and hoped to receive approval in early 1998.