China headed off a dispute surrounding its first step into the world of commercial satellites by stepping down and agreeing to move its Apstar 1 to a different orbit to avoid interfering with signals from nearby satellites: China-backed, Hong Kong-based APT Satellite Co will move Apstar-1 to the 138 degrees East slot, currently allocated by international agreement to the island nation of Tonga; Apstar-1 was launched by a Chinese Long March rocket on July 21 into the 131 degrees East position, wedged between satellites used by Japan’s Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp and Rimsat Inc of the US; Rimsat, which also operates satellites in a number of Tonga’s designated positions, had argued that Apstar would interfere with Rimsat transmissions in the spot originally chosen; Rimsat said Apstar had discussed the crowding issue at talks in Peking; Apstar services are to start soon.
