Space industry in Hong Kong

APT Satellite

Hong Kong, Hong Kong commercial

APT Satellite Holdings is a Hong Kong-based satellite operator providing telecommunications services across the Asia-Pacific region through its APSTAR satellite fleet. A red chip company controlled by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, APT Satellite operates five in-orbit satellites covering Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Pacific islands reaching approximately 75% of the world's population. The APSTAR fleet includes APSTAR-7, APSTAR-9, APSTAR-5C, APSTAR-6C, and APSTAR-6D satellites, providing superior satellite transponder leasing, broadcast distribution, teleport services, data center operations, and OTT services to broadcasters and telecommunications customers. Gateway stations throughout Southeast Asia enhance service capabilities connecting HTS satellites with terrestrial networks for high-quality broadband telecommunications. In November 2024, APSTAR Alliance Satcom Limited held the in-orbit delivery ceremony for APSTAR-6E, China's first fully electric propulsion communications satellite, manufactured by China Academy of Space Technology using the innovative DFH-3E platform. APSTAR-6E features 25 Ku-band user beams and 3 Ka-band gateway beams, operating in collocation with APSTAR-6C and APSTAR-6D at the 134E orbital slot. The APSTAR constellation provides comprehensive coverage enabling direct-to-home television distribution, corporate networking, maritime connectivity, and government communications throughout the Asia-Pacific region. With trailing twelve-month revenue of approximately $101 million, APT Satellite continues expanding capacity and capabilities to serve the growing demand for satellite-based communications across one of the world's most populous and economically dynamic regions.

AsiaSat

Hong Kong, Hong Kong commercial

AsiaSat (Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company) is a Hong Kong-based regional satellite operator founded in 1988, providing direct-to-home broadcasting, broadband, and VSAT telecommunications services across the Asia-Pacific region from geostationary orbit. The company was originally established through a consortium including Hutchison Whampoa and Cable & Wireless, later transitioning to ownership by CITIC Pacific and GE Capital before being taken private in 2015 by a consortium led by CITIC and the Carlyle Group. AsiaSat operates a fleet of GEO satellites — AsiaSat 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 — positioned at orbital slots covering China, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Australasia. AsiaSat 9 (2017) and AsiaSat 8 (2014) carry Ku-band and Ka-band high-throughput satellite (HTS) capacity, enabling broadband internet delivery to maritime vessels, aircraft, and underserved terrestrial locations. The company's AsiaSat 5 and AsiaSat 7 satellites anchor major DTH broadcasting platforms distributing television channels across the region. AsiaSat's primary revenue comes from transponder leasing to broadcasters, telecommunications carriers, enterprise VSAT network operators, and government customers. The company competes with SES, Intelsat, Thaicom, JCSAT, and Measat for transponder capacity across overlapping Asia-Pacific coverage regions. Operating from its Tai Po Earth Station facility in Hong Kong, AsiaSat maintains 24/7 satellite control and teleport uplink services. The company's position at major orbital slots over Asia provides coverage reaching approximately half the world's population.