SES, Platco Digital Grow Direct-to-Home Satellite TV in Southern Africa

SES signed a 15-year contract with Platco Digital, a sister company of the South African independent broadcaster e.tv, to broadcast a new free-to-air  service in South Africa, with future plans to expand across Southern Africa.

The contract for two transponders, with an option for additional capacity in 2014, will allow the Direct-to-Home (DTH) transmission of a new TV channel platform by Platco Digital to audiences in South Africa’s urban and remote areas. SES will provide the satellite capacity on the SES-5 satellite at 5 degrees East, one of the company’s flagship orbital slots, which supports customers developing the Digital DTH TV markets in Africa.

“This agreement is an important step for the growth of the major South African free-to-air broadcaster and the development of Direct-to-Home TV reception in Africa’s dynamic emerging markets,” said Ferdinand Kayser, Chief Commercial Officer of SES. “It shows that satellite can help broadcasters overcome the challenges of terrestrial coverage, reach large audiences and extend their services with free-to-air programmes. Based on our extensive experience in other parts of the world, SES is well established to provide broadcasters with the highest quality satellite capacity to build a high-value neighbourhood and grow DTH satellite TV across the continent.”

Platco Digital and e.tv are owned by Sabido Investments (Pty) Limited, a South African media group with holdings in a variety of broadcasting, content, production and distribution businesses.

“Platco Digital will offer local and international television businesses the opportunity to broadcast free-to-air channels on the DTH platform, in addition to the Digital Terrestrial Television and Mobile TV platforms,” says Sabido Investment’s CEO Marcel Golding. “Sabido is excited about this new multi-platform initiative, which will provide South African and African viewers more entertaining, informative and educational programming for free.”

SES, Portugal Telecom Sign Capacity Renewal Deals
SES signed two capacity renewal deals with Portugal Telecom to meet growing connectivity demands across the Archipelago of the Azores and the Portuguese-speaking African countries.

The agreements will see the largest telecommunications service provider in Portugal utilise over 100 MHz of capacity aboard NSS-7 and SES-4 to connect the island communities of Flores and Corvo on the Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. It will also enable Portugal Telecom to improve its positioning as an integrated provider for connectivity to the African continent, meeting increasing demand for bandwidth and coverage for services such as mobile backhaul and corporate networks in African countries such as Angola, Mozambique, and São Tomé, amongst others.

“The latest renewals with Portugal Telecom illustrate our ongoing commitment to provide communication services in all corners of the world,” said Deepak Mathur, Senior Vice President for Asia who is also responsible for European data and mobility services, at SES. “The utilisation of satellite capacity in Africa enables Portugal Telecom to respond promptly to the connectivity needs of corporations which need constant connectivity between Africa and Portugal.”