Optus to launch ninth satellite

Australian operator Optus will launch its ninth satellite - the D3 - in August.

The satellite will be used to provide pay TV, DTH and data services, the SingTel-owned operator said. It will expand Optus\'s satellite coverage by 30%.

The satellite is the third of Optus\'s D series of satellites. Optus has spent over A$800 million ($636.4 million) on the fleet so far. The satellite was built by Orbital Science and will be launched from the Guiana Space Center.

Pay TV provider Foxtel has already leased a large portion of the satellite to deliver its services, Optus said. The D1 satellite was launched in 2006, and D2 was launched in 2007.

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