AsiaSat 7, a new communications satellite designed and built for Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), the world's leading provider of commercial satellites, arrived at the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan, where it will be launched aboard an ILS Proton Breeze M vehicle provided by International Launch Services (ILS).

The launch is currently scheduled for 26 November Baikonur time.

"We appreciate SS/L's efforts to complete the construction of AsiaSat 7 and have it ready to ship one month ahead of schedule," said William Wade, President and Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat.

"To ensure service continuity, AsiaSat retires satellite production schedule and launch risks through an early procurement process. Space Systems/Loral's exemplary performance means that we will have additional capacity on-orbit well ahead of the planned date for the AsiaSat 3S replacement."

AsiaSat 7 is a Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) spacecraft that will provide television broadcast, telephone networks and VSAT networks across the Asia-Pacific region.

AsiaSat 7 will ultimately replace AsiaSat 3S at the orbital location of 105.5 degrees East longitude when the latter reaches its end of life in 2014.

"We are very pleased to help AsiaSat meet the growing demand for satellite services in the region," said John Celli, President of Space Systems/Loral.

"We tailor every satellite that we design and build specifically to meet the operator's needs. For AsiaSat 7 we provided flexibility with switching capability, and a Ka-band payload in addition to C- and Ku-band."

AsiaSat 7 will carry 28 C-band and 17 Ku-band transponders, and a Ka-band payload.

Its region-wide C-band beam covers Asia, the Middle East, Australasia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, with Ku-band beams serving East Asia, South Asia and a steerable Ku beam to satisfy market demand.

AsiaSat 7 is based on the highly reliable Space Systems/Loral 1300 platform which offers the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances and will provide service for over 15 years.