SingTel may sell Optus Satellite division

SingTel has hired both Morgan Stanley and Credit Swiss to review the potential for selling the Optus Satellite division. The Oputs Satellite division currently operates five satellites in orbit, and has one Satellite, Optus 10 under construction.

Speculation has started to form around APT Satellite from Hong Kong and EutelSat from Paris, however due to the defence contract on the Optus C1 satellite, a chinese connected buyer (APT is partly owned by ChinaSat) may raise some eyebrows in Canberra and complicate a potential deal.

Valuations are speculated to be in the $1B to $2B range, with the potential that if SingTel cannot find a buyer, an IPO might be another option. It is not clear how the NBNCo Satellite plans may have affected the future direction for the Optus Satellites division, however it will no doubt be in the back of the mind of any potential buyers.

Australian Space Needs: Telecommunications

Australia is one of the most suited countries in the world for Satellite based telecommunications due to our large size, and geographically spread population. It is also no surprise that Telecommunications has been one of Australia’s most successful segments of the space industry for many years. Globally speaking it is also one of the most successful commercial industries within space with an estimate $80 Billion revenue size.


Telecommunications encompasses a wide range of different applications that Australians use every day, without paying much attention to it. Space based telecommunications used in Australia include:

• Television broadcasting
• Consumer Broadband Internet Services
• Satellite Telephone Services
• Telecommunications backhaul services
• Remote Site Communications such as mining sites or defence requirements

The Australian Space Government website identifies that there are at least 14 satellite operators that provide satellite communications to, from and within Australia, and the ACMA highlights that growth in the global industry was 38% from 2000 to 2005, with this level of growth expected to continue. So far this year, many telecommunications companies have released close to double-digit business growth including Optus who recently reported a 9% jump in Satellite revenue.

A little bit of history.... 

Back in the early 80’s, a government telecommunications provider called Aussat was created, and on the 27th of August 1985 launched its first satellite – Aussat A1 via the Space Shuttle Discovey. Aussat A1 provided communications services for both civilian and military needs, as well as television broadcast to remote regions in Australia. It was located at 160° east in Geostationary orbit, and remained operational until 1993.

Aussat A1 being launched from the Space Shuttle Discovery (Photo: Spaceinfo.com.au)

Not long after, Aussat A2 and A3 were launched in November 1985 and September 1987 respectively, providing Aussat with a fleet of operational telecommunications satellites in orbit, and a unique capability to Australia. The A-series satellites were Ku Band satellites, and were built by Hughes (now Boeing).

In 1992, Optus purchased Aussat including the A-series of satellites, and moved ahead in acquiring the B-series of satellites to meet growing demand. On the 13^th of August 1992, the Optus B-1 satellite was launched, with the launch failure of the Optus B-2 satellite occurring the 21^st of December 1992. Optus B-3 was then developed and launched on the 27^th of August 1994 to replaced the failed B-2 satellite.

The Optus B3 Satellite (Photo Credit: Optus)

For the next generation of satellites, Optus teamed up with the Australia department of Defence, with Optus C-1 using the Ku band for civilian telecommunications, and UHF, X and Ka bands for defence purposes. Optus C-1 carries significant television broadcasts, including Foxtel, ABC Australia, Aurora (remote free to air television), and other channel’s (7,9,10) digital broadcasts. 
The D-series of satellites include D-1 (launch: 13^th Oct 2006), D-2 (launch: 5^th Oct 2007), and D-3 (launch: 21^st August 2009). These satellites replaced the B-1 and B-3 Satellites at end of life, and expanded capacity of the C-1 satellite through co-location. The D-series of satellites provides television broadcast services, two way voice and data services to Australia and New Zealand, as well as services to Australian and NZ government departments.

The Optus D1 Satellite (Photo Credit: Optus)

In total, Aussat / Optus has had a fleet of 9 working satellites – certainly the biggest of any Australian organisation.  

What’s next for Satellites?

Looking to the future, there are several major developments underway that will underpin the future of space based telecommunications in Australia for the years to come.

Firstly, Optus has recently announced that it has just ordered a next generation Ku satellite (currently named Optus 10), and is planned for launch in 2013. This will ensure that their capabilities will last long into the 2020’s.  

NBNCo is right in the middle of making a decision about ordering two Ka band satellites to cover the complete Australian continent, allowing high speed broadband and telecommunications to all those Australians not covered by fibre optic or wireless technologies. 

Thirdly, a company called NewSat  is planning on launching its own fleet of telecommunications satellites called “Jabiru” over the coming years, and are in the advanced planning stages of the satellite procurement.

In this respect, the space based telecommunications future in Australia looks very bright!

Ground Segments

On the ground segment side of things, Space based telecommunications has had a long and successful history in Australia. Just before Aussat A1 was launched, Aussat (now Optus) also opened its Sydney Earth Station at Belrose, which still remains one of the most important space facilities in Australia. I’d also highly recommend the recent ARN article here about the Belrose earth station – it’s a great read.

The Optus Belrose facility (Photo credit: ITnews) 

In addition to the Optus facility at Belrose, Australia also plays host to a number of major ground segments for international space agencies including NASA, ESA, JAXA. Major ground stations around Australia include the NASA Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex at Tidbinbilla, the Perth International Telecommunications Centre, ESA’s facility at New Norcia and the NewSat centres at Bayswater and Mawson Lakes.

Main defence ground segments include the Australian Defence Satellite Communications Station (ADSCS) at Geraldton, the Shoal Bay receiving station, and the Joint Defence Facility at Pine Gap. 


For those of you who are interested in the ground segment side of things, the ACMA currently has a discussion paper out about Earth Station siting – particularly in relation to spectrum issues. You can read more about this or make a submission here with the pdf of the paper here 

The Space Telecommunications industry in Australia has had a long and successful history in Australia and and has a very bright future, both in Space and On-ground. With Optus, NBNCo and NewSat all looking to build new satellites over the coming few years - expect big things to come.  

NBNCo Satellite Announcement soon?

Space Boomerang understands that NBNCo is in the final stages of evaluating submissions from potential satellite suppliers, and that the preferred tender could be announced soon.

In what is shaping up to be a massive year for satellite opportunities in Australia, with Optus already having selected Space Systems/Loral for their next satellite - Optus 10, two Ka Band telecommunications satellites for NBNCo, and a potential for a Jabiru Satellite for NewSat, the NBNCo purchase will significantly impact the satellite telecommunications market in Australia for many years to come.

Watch this space for the announcement!

Optus Selects Space Systems/Loral for new Optus 10 Satellite

Image Credit: Optus

Australian Telecommunications provider Optus has selected Space Systems/Loral for its new Optus 10 telecommunications satellite.

The satellite will feature 24 Ku band transponders, and will cover both Australia and New Zealand. The satellite is expected to have a 15 year design life, and will provide broadcasting and fixed satellite services.

In an unusual design move, the satellite is expected to be smaller than comparable satellites, weighing in at about 3,200kg, with suggestion that the satellite will use ion-electric propulsion. It will be built in Palo Alto, California by Space Systems/Loral, and is expected to be delivered in 2013.

Whilst Space Systems/Loral manufactured the Optus C1 satellite, since then, Optus has used Orbital Sciences Corporation for satellite manufacture.

The satellite is not expected to be replacing any of Optus' existing satellite fleet - rather, it is expected to be adding additional capacity on top of current levels. Optus has also moved away from its previous naming convention (A, B, C and D series of Satellites) to a strictly number based convention.

No Launcher for the Optus 10 satellite has been announced yet, however if the weight remains at 3,200kg, it may be able to take a dual launch slot on an Ariane 5 launcher.

Optus 10 is likely to be the start of several Australian satellites to be purchased in the next year or two, with NBNCo close to announcing the provider for two Ka-band satellites, as well as plans by NewSat to launch their own Jabiru telecommunications satellite.

Optus looking for a Spacecraft Systems Engineer and Spacecraft Payload Engineer

 
Optus, Australia's leading satellite communications company is currently advertising for both a Spacecraft Systems Engineer and a Spacecraft Payload Engineer.

Both positions are full time, based out of Optus' Macquarie Park campus in Sydney, and appear to be aimed at a graduate or early career candidate. 

For those interested, head over to the Optus Website or my links above.

Happy Birthday Optus Satellites

 Photo from Spaceinfo.com.au

Optus Satellites recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary. On August the 27th 1985, what was then known as Aussat, launched its first satellite on the Space Shuttle.  Since then, Optus have managed to launch 8 more satellites for a total fleet of 9 satellites, and one of the true quiet achievers in the Australian Space Industry.

For those 25 years, the fleet of Optus Satellites have changed many things across Australia, and most Australians are not even aware of the vital role the play in or tele-communications, TV, radio, internet and for our defence forces. 

For those interested in knowing a little more about Optus' current fleet, head here. 

Happy Birthday Optus!

NBNCo has shortlisted its Satellite Operators

The Australian Newspaper within Mitchell Bingemann's article have indicated that the NBNCo has shortlisted Satellite Operators based on an earlier Request for Capability Statement.

It identifies that Optus, Intelsat and Hughes Network Systems are understood to be on the shortlist.  This would also indicate that NBNCo is interested in a 3rd party operating the Satellite network, rather than purchasing the satellites themselves.

More will be known when NBNCo releases the RFT in a few weeks time.