MultiChoice Africa, the largest satellite TV provider in the continent, has signed a new 15 year capacity deal with Eutelsat for the lease of 20 transponders.
All 20 Ku-band transponders are on Eutelsat’s new W7 satellite that is now operating at the 36E…
MultiChoice Africa, the largest satellite TV provider in the continent, has signed a new 15 year capacity deal with Eutelsat for the lease of 20 transponders.
All 20 Ku-band transponders are on Eutelsat’s new W7 satellite that is now operating at the 36E orbital position. The contract will expire in 2025.
The deal is an extension of Eutelsat’s existing relationship with MultiChoice, which began in 2000. Prior to the new capacity deal, MultiChoice used 14 transponders on Eutelsat’s W4 satellite, most of which have now been successfully migrated to W7. The transition will be complete by the end of February.
MultiChoice will use the new capacity to continue its expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa, where it now has more than 800,000 subscribers. By consolidating all of its Ku-band capacity on to one satellite it will be able to improve its existing services, such as in Ethiopia, where it will update its DStv platform from C-Band to Ku-band broadcasts. It will also introduce new high definition channels.
Eutelsat CEO Michel de Rosen said: “After ten years of strong collaboration at our 36 degrees East neighbourhood, the Eutelsat / MultiChoice Africa partnership can now move into a higher gear with W7. In terms of capacity, coverage and power, the long-term requirements of this leading player in Africa’s buoyant pay-TV market were one of Eutelsat’s core priorities when we initiated this new satellite programme.”
