APT suffers “fierce” satellite competition
March 21, 2019
By Chris Forrester
Hong Kong-based satellite operator APT Satellite – which operates the Apstar fleet – has reported revenues last year of HK$1.24 billion (€140.4m) and up 2.5 per cent on 2017’s performance.
But the operator says that competition in its region is “fierce” with last year’s activity best described as being “bleak” and no sign of an upturn this year.
“The business growth for satellite broadcasting and satellite telecommunication had been weak and the market environment on oversupply of satellite transponder and the decline in the transponder lease price remained unchanged,” APT Satellite stated. “To cope with the severe fierce market competition, the Group has actively explored new markets and new businesses and continued to enrich the service contents and varieties while providing high quality services to the customers.”
APT said that the Asia-Pac satellite transponder leasing market continues to suffer from over-supply and fierce competition.
APT launched two craft last year, Apstar-6 in May and the ‘condominium’ satellite Apstar-5C (co-owned with Telesat of Canada) in September.
The company has another craft (Apstar-6D) likely to launch this year on a Chinese rocket.