ABS-8 will replace ABS-7 at 116.1 degree East and is expected to launch in 2017. ABS-8 will operate in Ku-band, C-band and Ka-band and the payload will have a combination of widebeam shaped coverage and high throughput spot beams for substantially higher throughput and improved economics This satellite will expand broadcast, data and enterprise services to multiple markets: the Middle East, Russia, Southeast Asia, South Asia and the South Pacific region.