Well looks like battle plans are being drawn up... Actually using B3 as a replacement for B1 has a number of problems, least of which is that B3 is not without its little problems. Anyone taking a look at transponder 10 will notice a high level clean carrier at centre frequency which appears to be modulating the transponder noise floor in a slow-code manner. This is because B3 has problems with its telemetry beacons and this transponder arrangement is a way of getting the satellite telemetry back to Belrose control. <br />This means straight away that there is one less transponder for use. Explains why itinerant space on B3 is short - with UBI taking half of transponder 11, and transponder 10 not avail. Be even less space when UBI take over the whole of transponder 10.<br />The VSAT networks using B3 as well would create massive problems if they were interrupted. Some Government agencies use these services as a prime communications medium. I am sure that the Government would not understand if their services were interrupted in favour of a few rugby matches !!<br />All in all, the folk at Optus have a few problems on their hands.<br />Interesting to see how things finally pan out.