Paris based Eutelsat Communications and MultiChoice Africa have signed a 15 year agreement that could see DSTV’s footprint around Africa increase. The deal enables Mutichoice to broadcast on more transponders owned by Eutelsat’s neighbourhood of high-power satellites and this would be a key point of reference for broadcasting in sub-Saharan Africa.
Following the launch of Eutelsat 36C, MultiChoice Africa will take advantage of the entire payload of 15 Ku-band transponders connected to the African service area. The new satellite is expected to launch in 2015. MultiChoice has also booked two transponders on the Eutelsat 36A broadcast satellite that provides reach of the 38 countries in sub-Saharan Africa served by the DStv platform.
This means that company will lease a total of 36 Eutelsat transponders, up from 25 today. In addition to securing bandwidth for new Standard Definition and High Definition channels and services, the agreement equips MultiChoice Africa with in-orbit back-up capacity that will increase network continuity.
Eutelsat Communications has commercialized capacity on 39 satellites positioned to serve users in 150 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world’s leading satellite operators.
