Optus Successfully Launches Optus 10 Satellite That Will Improve TV, Internet, Phone & Data Transmission In Australia

Optus Australian subscribers could expect better TV, Internet, phone and data transmission with the successful launch of the carrier's Optus 10 satellite on Friday morning. The Ariane 5 rocket launched the satellite from the European space centre at Kourou, French Guiana.

The launch ends months of delay since it was first planned for May, but technical reasons caused the moving of the launch date. An Optus representative explained, "Launching a satellite is a complex process ... No one launches a satellite until it's been fully tested and the launch vehicle is capable of completing its launch mission."

Even during the launch, there were some delays when the Ariane 5 rocket's liftoff was delayed by 44 minutes after a "red" condition showed up on the status board of the Space Center. Then the countdown was stopped twice and there was a 27-second hold just before the liftoff.

Optus 10 will remain for about 15 years in space where it will join five other Optus satellites in orbit that service Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica. The carrier said it will provide better mobile network coverage in far-flung areas and more bandwidth to support video, data and phone services delivery.

The 3,270-kilogramme satellite hosts 24 Ku-band transponders, said the manufacturer of Optus 10, Space Systems/Loral of Palo Alto, California.

Optus Satellite Director Rob Parcell said the launch represents the next advance into space by Australia. The carrier's five satellites have generated for Optus over $300 million revenues yearly since it was first launched about 29 years ago.

As demand for data keeps growing, Optus's income from satellite services face pressure from foreign competitors such as Intelsat from Luxembourg and Inmarsat from Britain as well as from NBN, which is slated to launch two satellites in 2015 to service the regions in Australia.