MUMBAI: Malaysia's Binariang Satellite Systems has announced it will be using the Proton Breeze M launcher from International Launch Services (ILS) for the launch of the Measat-3 satellite in 2005.

The mission will use the Russian-built Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage to place Measat-3 at 91.5 degrees East longitude. The Boeing designed and manufactured MEASAT-3 will provide satellite services for communications applications in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Australia, a company release says.

This is the fifth contract for a commercial Proton launch signed this year with ILS, the world's leading launch provider. ILS is a US-Russian joint venture that markets and manages the commercial launch missions for the Proton vehicle, built by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, as well as for the American Atlas rocket, built by Lockheed Martin Corp.

MEASAT-3, co-located with Measat-1 at 91.5 East longitude will continue to serve the existing and growth requirements of our customers, while providing in-orbit redundancy. MEASAT-3 is employed with 24 C-band transponders, which will provide premium services in Asia, Australia Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe, while the 24 Ku-band transponders will provide high powered flexible spot beams in Malaysia, India, Indonesia and China.