(Telecompaper) Private equity companies Carlyle Group and KKR are among those lining up bids for SingTel's Australian subsidiary Optus Satellite, reports Reuters citing unnamed people familiar with the matter. Optus Satellite is valued at more than AUD 2 billion (USD 1.9 billion). SingTel is facing weak growth in its key markets of Singapore and Australia, and could use funds from a sale to invest in faster-growing businesses. The sources said that Blackstone Group, Eutelsat Communications and Providence Equity Partners are also expected to make bids, with SingTel understood to be inviting first round offers by 14 June. Optus sells TV, telephony and broadband services to more than 2 million subscribers in Australia and New Zealand.