The meteorological payload of MTSAT-2 has been put on standby at 145 degrees East above the equator since 4 September 2006, after JMA's having completed nearly all the in-orbit tests.
If MTSAT-1R should fail to obtain imagery for a certain period of time, MTSAT-2 will be taking over operational role until MTSAT-1R recovers its function. The meteorological payload of MTSAT-2 will become operational from around 2010, succeeding MTSAT-1R as the operational satellite which covers East Asia and the Western Pacific region.