AsiaSat’s Tai Po teleport. Photo: AsiaSat

Asia Satellite Telecommunications (AsiaSat) released its interim results for the six months ending June 30, 2018. Overall revenue is up 14 percent to HK$730 million ($93 million) from HK$642 million ($81.8 million) in 2017. The increase is attributed to the full six-month revenue from the leases of Asia Sat 8 and AsaSat 4, and additional revenue from new leases with video, data, and occasional use customers, according to the operator.

Overall payload utilization of AsaSat 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 remained stable at 69 percent as of June 30 2018. According to AsiaSat, new capacity and expanded coverage from AsiaSat 9 and flexible deployment of in-orbit service beams over new markets attracted new business in Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT)-supported maritime and inflight services, and occasional use distribution of sports and news events in Ultra High Definition (UHD) and High Definition (HD) formats.

“Despite the full benefits of the lease of the entire payload of AsiaSat 4 and the AsiaSat 8 Ku-band, intense price pressure that has impacted customer contract signing and renewals will offset part of these benefits, thus potentially affecting our performance in the second half,” AsiaSat Chairman Gregory Zeluck said in the release. “Nevertheless, given the company’s positive cash position and the on-going, long-term strength of the AsiaSat video neighborhood, underpinned by rising demand for video and other digital content, the outlook for the company for the remainder of 2018 appears to be stable.”