Japan’s B-SAT orders SS/L satellite for 8K
March 27, 2018
By Chris Forrester
Japan’s Broadcasting Satellite System Corp (B-SAT) is ordering a new satellite – BSAT 4b – from Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) that will help carry ‘Super Hi-Vision’ DTH signals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
“We are honoured to provide a second satellite to B-SAT that will help ensure high-quality distribution of the 2020 Olympic Games,” said Dario Zamarian, group president of SS/L. “We believe there is no greater endorsement of our capabilities than repeat orders from satisfied satellite operators and we look forward to continuing our good relationship with our partners at B-SAT.”
SS/L provided BSAT-4a to B-SAT in November 2017, and BSAT-4b will be a similar high-performance Ku-band broadcasting satellite. BSAT-4b will be co-located with BSAT-4a at 110 deg East.
B-SAT is a unique operator of broadcasting satellites in the 12 GHz BSS band for Japan. The company was established in April 1993 and is located in Tokyo. Since then, B-SAT which is owned 49.9 per cent by Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, has worked toward providing stable satellite operations and continuity of broadcasting services. B-SAT currently owns and manages four satellites, BSAT-3a, BSAT-3b and BSAT-3c, for Broadcast Satellite Services which are currently providing 2K (HDTV) channels, and BSAT-4a. B-SAT has already started 4K/8K test broadcasting and plan to provide new service, 4K/8K regular broadcasting service via the BSAT-4a satellite in December 2018.
“SSL completed BSAT-4a ahead of schedule and it is successfully operating on orbit,” said Takashi Yabashi, president/CEO at B-SAT. “We are pleased to extend our very good relationship with SS/L to continue our partnership on the BSAT-4b spacecraft.”