AsiaSat 8 is a Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) satellite being built for Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), serving Asia, the Middle East, and Australasia. The satellite is designed on the flight-proven SS/L 1300 satellite platform, which provides the flexibility for a broad range of applications and technology advances. It will have 24 Ku-band transponders and a Ka-band beam. The high-power transponders will enable the use of small antennas on the ground. The satellite is scheduled for launch in the first half of 2014 and designed to provide service for 15 years or more.