1.   APT said its ministry-level parent companies in China would help it gain orbital slots for new satellites and customers.

2.   Applications for the orbital slots required for the proposed systems were due last week, and at least nine companies filed.

3.   News Corp. was planning to use an orbital slot owned by MCI Communications Corp., the long-distance carrier, with which it has a strategic partnership.

4.   PrimeStar lacks both the satellites and orbital slot to offer such service.

5.   TCI, on the other hand, already owns a satellite but lacks an orbital slot in which to put it.

6.   The license has been seen as crucial, because there are only a handful of orbital slots available for DBS satellites and most of them had already been claimed.

7.   The risk is even greater considering that Mexico plans to auction several empty satellite orbital slots this year, and other countries could follow.

8.   These companies jointly control the only available U.S. orbital slot for a high-powered satellite service.

9.   Garcia added nothing prohibited PLDT and ICC from signing deals with foreign partners, but he noted the firms would be using orbital slots owned by other countries.

10.   But Lichauco justified the demand, saying that applying for an orbital slot also cost Manila money.