On November 26, 2024, APSTAR Alliance Satcom Limited and China Great Wall Industry Corporation held the in-orbit delivery ceremony for the APSTAR-6E satellite in Hong Kong. This ceremony marked the official delivery of the China’s first fully electric propulsion communications satellite to APSTAR Alliance Satcom Limited, ushering in a new chapter of commercial operation of the satellite.

The scene of the in-orbit delivery ceremony of the Asia-Pacific 6E communication satellite

APSTAR-6E satellite was procured by APSTAR Alliance Satcom Limited, an associate company of APT Satellite, with the satellite’s operation and technical support provided by APT Satellite. Manufactured by the China Academy of Space Technology using the DFH-3E platform, APSTAR 6E is the inaugural satellite of this innovative platform. APSTAR-6E is equipped with 25 Ku-band user beams and 3 Ka-band gateway beams, and operates in collocation with the APSTAR-6C and APSTAR-6D satellites at the 134E orbital slot. With a total capacity of approximately 30Gbps, APSTAR-6E provides full coverage across Indonesia, offering cost-effective, high-throughput broadband telecommunication services and helping bridging the digital gap of Indonesia.

Artist's impression of the APSTAR-6E communication satellite