Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) has announced that it has been selected to provide a new communications satellite, named AsiaSat 5C, to Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat).

AsiaSat 5C will serve as a backup for AsiaSat 5, which is currently being built by Space Systems/Loral and is scheduled for launch in the third quarter of 2009. AsiaSat 5 will replace AsiaSat 2 at the orbital location of 100.5 degrees East.

"Our focus on high quality and reliable service is something that we share with Space Systems/Loral," said Peter Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat.

"The AsiaSat 5C procurement program ensures the continuity of service to our AsiaSat 2 customers in the event of a launch failure of AsiaSat 5."

The spacecraft is based on Space Systems/Loral's 1300 satellite bus, with performance similar but not limited to that of AsiaSat 5 designed for the provision of fixed satellite services for television broadcast, telephone networks, and VSAT networks for broadband multimedia services across the Asia Pacific.

"We are very pleased to be selected once again to provide AsiaSat with a satellite that will reinforce its existing services to crucial communications networks in Asia," said John Celli, president and chief operating officer of Space Systems/Loral.