Lockheed Martin is to become an equity partner in the Asia Cellular Satellite (ACeS) project led by Indonesian PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara. This completes the capital investment required to build and launch in June, on a Russian Proton rocket, the ACeS' Lockheed-built Garuda 1 satellite, as well as funding the construction of Garuda 2. Other ACeS investors include the Philippines Long Distance Telephone Company and Jasmine International Overseas, of Thailand. AceS will cover about 60% of Asia, offering mobile communications services to a potential market of 1.7 billion people in seven nations.
Source: Flight International