Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), the leading provider of commercial satellites, and Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), Asia's leading satellite operator, has announced the signing of two construction agreements for two communications satellites, AsiaSat 6 and AsiaSat 8.

"We are committed to expanding our fleet in order to provide a broader range of services to meet increasing market demands for quality satellite capacity in this region," said William Wade, President and Chief Executive Officer of AsiaSat.

"Our experience with Space Systems/Loral has been very positive and we look forward to continuing to work together to serve our customers with some of the world's best communications satellites."

The contracts include AsiaSat 6 with a C-band payload and AsiaSat 8, with both Ku-band and Ka-band.

The two satellites will serve Asia, the Middle East and Australasia and are designed on the decade's proven SS/L 1300 satellite platform which provides the flexibility for a broad range of applications and technology advances. The satellites are planned to be launched by early 2014.

"AsiaSat and Space Systems/Loral both share a commitment to excellent performance and the highest quality service," said John Celli, President of Space Systems/Loral.

"We delivered AsiaSat 5 in 2009 and AsiaSat 7 was shipped one month ahead of schedule and is currently at launch base in preparation for launch on November 26. I can think of no better endorsement of our success than a repeat order from a satisfied customer."

With these new contracts Space Systems/Loral has secured six satellite contract awards for 2011.

AsiaSat 6 will have 28 high-power C-band transponders while AsiaSat 8 will have 24 Ku-band transponders and a Ka-band beam. The high-power transponders on the satellite will enable the use of small antennas on the ground.