Intelsat continues to invest in infrastructure in Africa, with plans to launch three satellites – Intelsat 20, Intelsat 22 and Intelsat 23 – in the next 10 months that will provide incremental capacity to the continent. With the launch of Intelsat New Dawn earlier this year, Intelsats African fleet grew to 22 satellites, representing a […]
Intelsat continues to invest in infrastructure in Africa, with plans to launch three satellites – Intelsat 20, Intelsat 22 and Intelsat 23 – in the next 10 months that will provide incremental capacity to the continent.
With the launch of Intelsat New Dawn earlier this year, Intelsats African fleet grew to 22 satellites, representing a multi-billion dollar investment in the region. The satellite has supplied critical Ku-band communications infrastructure to African customers from a geostationary orbital slot at 32.8° East.
Intelsats African infrastructure also includes five DVB platforms on four satellites, and the flexibility to set up customised IntelsatOnesm Network Broadband VSAT services. These broadband platforms provide direct access to Intelsats Internet backbone and global IntelsatOne fibre network. Intelsats partnership with BT, announced earlier this year, expands the reach of the IntelsatOne terrestrial network to new locations across the globe, including Nigeria and South Africa.
Intelsat managing director for Africa, Jonathan Osler, said, “Intelsats commitment to the African business community is unparalleled. No other satellite operator can provide the coverage, restoration and depth of services that Intelsat offers. Nearly 200 companies on the continent, including virtually all of the regions wireless operators, trust our highly reliable network to provide the infrastructure they need to offer best-in-class services to their customers. We also continue to build on our strong history of training our customers engineers and technicians across Africa as part of the industrys overall effort to reduce interference.”
Leading programmers join video neighbourhoods
In Africa, Multichoice Africa Limited, the regions pay-TV platform operator and programming distributor, expanded its commitment for capacity on Intelsat 904 for contribution services. This agreement complements Multichoices DTH capacity on Intelsat 7, Intelsats leading African media distribution neighborhood at 68.5º East.
Mumbai, India-based Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, one of Indias leading television, media and entertainment companies, also will begin distributing its programming at 68.5º East. The multi-year agreement spans Intelsat 10, and the follow-on Intelsat 20 satellite, scheduled for launch in mid-2012.
Dubai-based operator Strong Technologies LLC renewed its multi-year commitment to the Intelsat 10 video neighborhood at 68.5º East for its DTH platform. The service includes a mix of movies, sports, news and general interest content, carried on such networks as Fox and BBC World, and on several popular local African channels.
