MUMBAI: The MEASAT-3b satellite, which is co-located at 91.5 degree, has now finally gained the status of being active. However, Sun Group’s direct to home (DTH) arm Sun Direct is still in the process of getting regulatory clearances. The DTH operator will soon be able to avail the benefits that the satellite will offer. 

Speaking to Indiantelevision.com Sun Direct CEO Mahesh Kumar says, “We are still in the process of getting all the regulatory clearances.”

In may be recalled that in May last year, Sun Direct was looking at adding nine more transponders from its current four, to increase its High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) channel capacity. However, the delay in the launch of MEASAT-3b satellite that was to enable Sun Direct help add the additional transponders played spoilt sport. The satellite which was set for launch on 6 June 2014 (7 June Kuala Lumpur time), was postponed after the manufacturer of the MEASAT-3b co-passenger requested time for repairs to their satellite.

In September 2014, Ariane 5 ECA successfully launched two communications satellites Optus 10 and MEASAT 3b. MEASAT 3b, which is equipped with 48 high-power Ku-band transponders would enable DTH services not just in India but also Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia. It would be serving more than 18 million households, according to Measat.

Kumar had previously stated that with the extra capacity, the operator’s current HD offering would go up to 30 and expected the number of SD channels to go up to 350.