It has been reported by Space News that Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems has begun to build a new L-band mobile communications spacecraft aimed at serving the Chinese telecommunications market. The 6,000kg Silkwave-1 spacecraft has been ordered by China Telecom subsidiary CMMB Holdings Limited via New York Broadband LLC which will then least the satellite capacity to CMMB. The spacecraft will use the Boeing 702 bus platform and has 14kW of available power. The spacecraft will be launched by a non-Chinese launch vehicle in 2018.
CMMB is also purchasing Asiastar 1 at 105.5E which it will operate with China Satellite Mobile Media Ltd. Both Silkwave 1 and the Asiastar will be operated from Beijing.
