Tag Archives: Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat, Intersat agree connectivity deal

Eutelsat Communications and UAE-based African internet company Intersat have signed a multi-year deal to offer connectivity in Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Senegal.

Aminata Sanyang

Intersat will use the coverage and reach of Eutelsat’s internet satellite Konnect to provide a service to customers outside the limits of terrestrial infrastructure.

Since Eutelsat Konnect’s full entry into service a year ago, the satellite has enjoyed significant commercial momentum with wholesale and distribution agreements in many of the continent’s most populous countries.

Aminata Sanyang, MD of Intersat, said: “At Intersat, we strive to stay at the cutting edge of technology by investing in state-of-the art services that make our customer offer better and faster. We are pleased to integrate Eutelsat’s in-orbit assets into our suite of solutions to further roll out our offer of robust, high-quality, high-speed internet to an ever-growing number of Africans.”

Nicolas Baravalle, Eutelsat’s regional VP for sub-Saharan Africa, added: “We are delighted to sign this long-term agreement with Intersat to bring high-quality, reliable connectivity to institutions, businesses and consumers currently in the digital divide. It reflects the significant demand on the African continent. This contract also highlights the pertinence of Eutelsat’s multi-channel distribution strategy.”

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Eutelsat, RCS partner for DTH

Global satellite operator Eutelsat Communications has signed a multi-year contract with RCS Ghana to provide capacity for the broadcast of its DTH bouquet, bringing content to viewers in Ghana and beyond.

Nicolas Baravalle

With the use of the Ku-band frequency on the Eutelsat 7B satellite, RCS will be able to broadcast its fast-growing free-to-air DTH bouquet, comprising standard- and high-definition channels, to the Ghanaian market and more than 40 other countries in Africa.

The 7° east neighbourhood is a key orbital position for regional TV channels. Over 500 TV channels already broadcast from 7° east, which has become a new DTH hotspot for Sub-Saharan Africa, with some of the fastest growth rates in the region.

Hamza Tanko, chairman and CEO of RCS Ghana, said: “We are delighted to partner with Eutelsat for the broadcast of the RCS DTH bouquet, delivering exceptional content to viewers in Ghana and beyond, and enabling the broadcast of any channel in Ghana in high quality and at compelling rates. The 7° east position is ideal to serve the Ghanaian market and Eutelsat 7B offers consistent coverage and signal power all over Ghana as well as complete sub-Saharan coverage of over 40 African countries.”

Nicolas Baravalle, regional VP, sub-Saharan Africa at Eutelsat, added: “We are proud to support RCS Ghana in rolling out this high-quality content offering. This contract reflects the buoyancy of the Ghanaian broadcast market, the attraction of the unparalleled coverage of our 7° east neighbourhood and Eutelsat’s expertise in the African market. We look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration”

Eutelsat enables clients across video, data, government, fixed and mobile broadband markets to communicate effectively to their customers, irrespective of their location. More than 7,000 television channels operated by leading media groups are broadcast by Eutelsat to one billion viewers equipped for DTH reception or connected to terrestrial networks.

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AfricaXP broadens reach via Eutelsat

Channel and content distributor AfricaXP has secured a deal giving it capacity on two Eutelsat Communications satellites.

Craig Kelly

The new capacity will allow the AfricaXP platform, currently available in West Africa, to roll out 23 channels across Eastern and Southern Africa later this month.

AfricaXP CEO Craig Kelly said: “These two Eutelsat positions offer geographic reach in Africa’s key Western, Eastern and Southern markets where they serve large audiences.”

Nicolas Baravalle, Eutelsat director of sub-Saharan Africa, said: “This partnership reinforces the strength and desirability of these two orbital hotspots for the Sub-Saharan region, which are becoming increasingly sought after by broadcasters.”

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Eutelsat installs Tshipama for Africa

Global satellite operator Eutelsat Communications has appointed former Canal+ executive Jean-Claude Tshipama as CEO of broadband in Africa.

Jean-Claude Tshipama

The Paris-based firm has confirmed it has finalised its team in charge of broadband activities by employing Tshipama to oversee satellite broadband connectivity in Africa.

Tshipama previously worked at companies including Celtel in DR Congo, Bermuda-based Digicel Group and Microsoft. More recently, he was CEO of Canal+ in DR Congo and CEO of fashion brand Zympala in Canada.

In his new role, Tshipama’s responsibility is to ensure that Eutelsat’s broadband business is successfully deployed across Africa, drawing on the in-orbit resources of the Al Yah 3 satellite, expected to enter service next summer.

The operation of the Al Yah 3 satellite will be followed next year by the launch of the Konnect satellite, formerly called the African Broadband Satellite. According to the company, the broadband business will be one of the main focuses of Eutelsat’s growth strategy in the coming years.

“We are delighted to welcome Jean-Claude Tshipama to Eutelsat. His expert knowledge of the African market serving various industries, particularly telecommunications, will be a valuable asset to us in achieving our strong ambitions on this continent,” said Michel Azibert, Eutelsat’s chief commercial and development officer.

“We are now in perfect shape and looking forward to expanding our business in the fast-growing fixed broadband sector.”

Eutelsat is the third largest satellite operator worldwide, after SES and Intelsat. Launched in 1977, the company provides coverage in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the US. Eutelsat’s satellites broadcast to over 274 million cable and satellite homes.

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