BSAT

Bsat, commonly styled BSAT, refers to the Broadcasting Satellite System, a Japanese satellite broadcasting service and the fleet of satellites used to deliver direct-to-home television and related data services. The system is operated by B-SAT Co., Ltd., a company established to implement Japan’s satellite broadcasting infrastructure. Since its inception in the late 1990s, the BSAT fleet has provided capacity for national and regional channels, with new satellites added over time to increase capacity and coverage.

BSAT satellites are geostationary and use Ku-band transponders to distribute digital television signals to broadcast stations and households equipped with receiving equipment. In addition to direct-to-home television, the BSAT system supports distribution of programming to terrestrial broadcasters, cable headends, and other service providers, as well as data services and, in some cases, disaster-relief communications.

The BSAT program has evolved through multiple generations of satellites, each improving capacity, power, and efficiency. ITU coordination assigns orbital slots for the satellites, ensuring broad coverage for Japan and adjacent regions. The BSAT fleet interworks with other Japanese satellite operators to support nationwide broadcasting, digital switchover transitions, and contingency broadcast services.

See also: Satellite television in Japan; List of communications satellites.