[Satellite TODAY 7-3-13] Astro Malaysia Holdings plans to use transponder capacity on the Measat 3c (M3c) satellite for a fee of $500 million Malaysian Ringgit ($156.9 million) over a period of 15 years from its commencement date.

 

     The M3c satellite, which is expected to launch in the third quarter of 2015, is intended to enhance Astro’s existing transponder capacity. "We are taking 18 more transponders over three years commencing next year,” Astro CEO Datuk Rohana Rozhan said during a media briefing after the company’s annual general meeting and extraordinary general meeting held Wednesday. At the EGM, the group received the shareholders’ approval for the use of the M3c satellite transponder.

 

    Rohana said the investment would be funded internally and that the additional transponders on the M3c satellite are expected to expand the group’s broadcasting capacity to support the transmission of additional high definition channels to its subscribers. Currently, Astro has 18 transponders with 170 channels, which have almost reached full capacity.