Space Systems/Loral (SSL) and Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) announced the signing of a construction agreement for a high power, multi-mission satellite, AsiaSat 9, to be used for television broadcast, private networks and broadband services across the Asia Pacific. The LS-1300 bus satellite is expected to be launched in 2016. Designed to operate in C, Ku, and Ka-band, AsiaSat 9 will be located at 122 degrees East Longitude where it will replace AsiaSat 4. AsiaSat 9 will provide service to multiple markets with more active transponders and higher power performance than the current satellite.