[Satellite TODAY 05-07-10] SES World Skies closed the acquisition of the ProtoStar 2 satelite, which the company won in a December public option, SES announced May 5.
     The satellite, launched in May 2009, has been renamed SES-7 and will be re-deployed to 108.2 degrees East to provide incremental capacity in South Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.
     SES-7, built by Boeing, carries 22 Ku-band transponders as well as 10 S-band transponders. The S-band payload will be used by MCI Indovision, a DTH platform operator in Indonesia, which has an option to fully acquire the payload for the 15-year expected life of the satellite.
     “The acquisition of SES-7 is another example of our laser-like focus on growing new markets for the SES group and our customer-centric approach. Given the scarcity of capacity and spectrum in many emerging markets, particularly in South Asia, SES World Skies is constantly looking for innovative ways to help support customers’ requirements for growth,” Rob Bednarek, president and CEO of SES World Skies, said in a statement.