Artist rendition of the SES 9 satellite. Photo: Boeing

[Via Satellite 06-18-2014] SES increased its reach in the Asia-Pacific region from 36 million homes in 2012 to more than 41 million for 2013, representing a growth of 15 percent year-over-year. SES also maintained the highest number of Direct-to-Home (DTH) channels in the region, an offering of more than 1,000 channels with more than 90 in High Definition (HD). This growth was led by continued momentum in the South Asia and Southeast Asia DTH markets through major deals with operators in the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

SES’ DTH pay-TV subscriber Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) is expected to reach 7.8 percent for Asia, compared to the global rate of 5.2 percent, for the period between 2013 and 2022, according to Euroconsult. Analysts from Northern Sky Research also predict a 5.1 percent CAGR, compared to a global rate of 4.3 percent, for Asian broadband backhaul sites between 2012 and 2022, increasing to more than 26,000 sites.

SES will launch the SES 9 satellite in 2015, which will be the operator’s largest satellite serving the Asia-Pacific region. The satellite will be co-located with SES 7 and NSS 11 at the 108.2 degrees east orbital position, and will provide DTH broadcasting services and other communications services in Northeast Asia, South Asia and Indonesia, as well as serving the maritime communications sector in the Indian Ocean.