15 May 2018
Arqiva, the leading UK communications infrastructure company, has today announced a new agreement which will see the reach of Sound Digital’s commercial DAB multiplex in the UK expand by nearly 4 million people.
The agreement with Sound Digital will see Arqiva add 19 new transmitters to the existing network. This will increase Sound Digital’s household coverage by over 1.6m new households in areas such as Devon, Cornwall, South Wales, North East Scotland, East Anglia and Kent.
Sound Digital, the second national commercial DAB multiplex, currently carries 19 radio stations on its network, including Mellow Magic, Virgin Radio, Forces Radio, Sunrise Radio and Jack 3. It is the first national multiplex in the UK to use DAB+ technology for some of its services.
Steve Holebrook, Managing Director, Terrestrial Broadcast at Arqiva, said: “This agreement to expand the reach of Sound Digital is further evidence of the continued success of DAB radio in the UK, and the fact that more and more people are making it their digital radio platform of choice.
“This week’s RAJAR figures are widely expected to show that for the first time ever, the majority of radio listening is through digital means and within that, DAB is by far the largest contributor.
“We are delighted to be bringing Sound Digital’s diverse range of content to almost 4 million new listeners for the first time.”
9 May 2018
Deal will see new C- and Ku-band VSAT services launched at ultra-competitive prices
London, UK, and Brussels, Belgium, May 8, 2018 – Professional VSAT services provider SatADSL , Global Telesat – which provides telecommunication services in rural and challenging locations – and satellite operator RascomStar today announced a new partnership to offer affordable satellite broadband connectivity across Africa
Under the agreement, Global Telesat will manage the services from its state-of-the-art teleport facilities in Alicante, Spain. From there, Global Telesat can connect its iDirect Evolution hub to SatADSL’s innovative Cloud-based Service Delivery Platform (C-SDP), enabling it to offer a range of services for communities, businesses, administrations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) – all without investment in a physical infrastructure.
“We are committed to providing reliable connectivity anywhere at any time, even in the most challenging locations,” said Laure Gathy, New Business Development Manager at Global Telesat. “SatADSL’s solutions are a perfect fit for our customers who cannot rely on terrestrial infrastructure to connect and the C-SDP means we can offer services quickly and very cost-effectively.”
RascomStar will supply the capacity over its satellite RQ1R located at 2.9°East, covering the whole of Africa in C and Ku band connectivity.
CEO of RascomStar Sherif Azzabi said: “Our mission at RascomStar is to develop remote and rural areas across Africa and we’re delighted that our paertnership with SatADSL and Global Telesat will enable us to do just that.”
Global Telesat is the latest service provider to connect to SatADSL’s C-SDP, which is now being used by 76 Africa-based partners.
Founder and Chief Operations Officer at SatADSL Caroline De Vos said: “We are proud to partner with Global Telesat and RascomStar to enhance the communications of individuals and enterprises across Africa. Pooling our combined expertise in the satellite communications industry has enabled us to provide a unique offering to previously underserved areas at a time when connectivity has never been more crucial.”
About SatADSL
SatADSL (www.satadsl.net) is a satellite Service Provider which designs and offers innovative satellite networking solutions to banks, microfinances, broadcasters, NGOs, Governments, ISPs, telecom operators and other companies in Africa and the Middle East in remote areas or where terrestrial infrastructure is not reliable.
Founded in 2010, SatADSL has already installed more than 3,000 VSAT networks in more than 45 countries. It specializes in providing tailor-made solutions based on customers’ specific requirements and flexible service plans that meet its clients’ budgets.
Through its carrier-grade Cloud-Service Delivery Platform (C-SDP), which integrates the most advanced technologies, SatADSL provides custom-made networking solutions, tailor-made service plans and value-added services, including hierarchical service control and monitoring, traffic prioritization and online billing and payments, for any frequency band and any access technology.
About Global Telesat
Global Telesat Communications (GTC) is a provider of communications hardware, airtime, mapping and related services which operate via satellite on the world’s leading commercial satellite networks. GTC enables wireless communications in areas not served or underserved by regular landline or mobile networks, or in circumstances where these networks are not operational due to natural or man-made disasters. Many of GTC’s products and services offer 100% global coverage thereby allowing users in remote locations to make phone calls, connect to the internet and track assets or personnel anywhere in the world.
GTC provides equipment and airtime for use on all the major satellite networks including Globalstar, Inmarsat, Iridium and Thuraya, and has a rental service for customers requiring equipment on a short-term basis.
GTC was established in Poole, UK in 2008 as a family owned and run business. In 2015, the company merged with Orbital Tracking Corp., and its subsidiary Orbital Satcom Corp, US-based providers of satellite based tracking, voice and data communications. Through these three companies, GTC offers expert advice, competitive prices, next day delivery and service to in excess of 12,000 existing customers around the world.
About RascomStar
RascomStar operates the first Pan-African geo-stationary satellite located at 2.9° East. As well as providing satellite capacity in C- and Ku-band across Africa, the company also deploys value-added services such as fixed and mobile rural telephony, VSAT services, Wi-Fi, GSM backhaul and TV broadcast.
PR Contacts
SatADSL
Caroline De Vos
Co-Founder & COO
+32 478 31 13 76
Caroline.devos@satadsl.net
and
Jayne Brooks
+44 1636 704 888
jayne.brooks@proactive-pr.com
Global Telecom
Laure Gathy
New Business Development Manager
+244 222 309 519
lgathy@globaltelesat.com
8 May 2018
Broadcasts from the BBC and VoA have been stopped in Burundi, two weeks before the country votes in a referendum that could see the president’s rule extended for over a decade. At the same time, Radio France Internationale has been warned against broadcasting remarks that are “untruthful and partisan”.
On 4 May, a statement was issued by the country’s media regulator, the National Communication Council, stating: “The international radios, ‘BBC London’ and ‘Voice of America ‘VOA’ have been suspended from broadcasting throughout the Burundi territory for six months starting on 7 May 2018 for breaching laws regulating the media and unethical conduct.”
“We are dismayed by the actions taken today by the Burundi National Communications Council to ban VOA from broadcasting its news and information programs,” said VOA director Amanda Bennett.
According to Human Rights Watch, Burundi enjoyed one of the most independent media environments in the region. When President Pierre Nkurunziza (pictured) – who has been in power since 2005 – announced his bid for a third term in 2015, there was a significant tightening of restrictions on the media. Today, the World Press Freedom Index ranks Burundi at position 159 of 180 countries in the press freedom index.
BBC World Service programmes have been carried on its local FM relays in Burundi until the crackdown: Bujumbura on 90.2MHz and Mount Manga on 105.6MHz. VoA also has two local FM relays in the country.
4 May 2018
The Association for International Broadcasting has published its latest member-exclusive Market Intelligence briefing.
Designed to keep members up-to-date with developments in media markets globally, this latest issue includes a media environment guide for Armenia, news about international channels setting up new operations and updates on the Association’s work on Brexit-related issues.
The briefing is supplied to AIB Members as one of the benefits of membership of the Association. Look at our Guide to Membership booklet to find out more about the international work of the AIB.
30 April 2018
Monday 30 April has been one of the deadliest days for journalists working in Afghanistan. Ten journalists were among dozens killed in multiple attacks across the country. News Agency AFP says that it is the worst days for the country’s media since 2001.
AFP reported that two suicide blasts in Kabul killed 25 people including Shah Marai, the agency’s chief photographer in Kabul, along with at least eight other journalists. Reporters Without Borders said this was the most lethal single attack on the media since the fall of the Taliban.
The attack, claimed by the Islamic State group, was condemned internationally by groups including the United Nations and the European Union, and spurred an outpouring of grief among Afghan journalists, many of whom took to Twitter to post tributes to colleagues and friends.
Journalists from Radio Free Europe and Afghan broadcasters Tolo News and 1TV were among those killed in Kabul.
AFP’s Marai – who was buried later Monday – joined the international news agency as a driver in 1996, the year the Taliban seized power, and began taking pictures on the side, covering stories including the US invasion in 2001.
In 2002 he became a full-time photo stringer, rising through the ranks to become chief photographer in the bureau. He leaves behind six children, including a newborn daughter.
“This is a devastating blow for the brave staff of our close-knit Kabul bureau and the entire agency,” said AFP Global News Director Michele Leridon, describing him as a “treasured colleague”.
“We can only honour the extraordinary strength, courage, and generosity of a photographer who covered often traumatic, horrific events with sensitivity and consummate professionalism,” Leridon said.
“We also send our condolences to the families of other journalists killed in this terrible attack.”
Jamie Angus, Director of BBC World Service, announced: “It is with great sadness that the BBC can confirm the death of BBC Afghan reporter Ahmad Shah following an attack earlier today. The attack took place in Khost province.
“Ahmad Shah was 29. He had worked for the BBC Afghan service for more than a year and had already established himself as a highly capable journalist who was a respected and popular member of the team.
“This is a devastating loss and I send my sincere condolences to Ahmad Shah’s friends and family and the whole BBC Afghan team. We are doing all we can to support his family at this very difficult time.”
Photo credits: AFP/BBC
30 April 2018
Recent and ongoing unrest in Armenia, sparked by the recent appointment as prime minister of outgoing President Serzh Sarkisian, and his resignation a week later have been widely reported in domestic and international media.
Nearly two thirds of Armenians name unemployment, poverty, corruption, and lack of peace in the country as the most important issues facing this small land-locked country of some 3 million which became independent in 1991.
Web of relations, complex international issues
A war started in 1992 after the Armenian-majority territory of Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence from Azerbaijan in 1988. It ended with a ceasefire brokered by Russia in 1994. Armenia depends on Russia for its security.
Together with Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, Armenia is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, which it joined in 2015.
Armenia signed also a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the European Union in November 2017.
Mixed media landscape
The constitution guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression.
However, press freedoms are restricted. Armenia was ranked 80th in the 2018 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index, and Freedom House, described Armenia as not free in its latest report
According to IREX, a non-profit organization, Armenia has over 36 active print outlets, 20 radio stations, and 17 TV stations (nine channels in Yerevan, capital, including two Russian state channels and CNN, seven stations with nationwide coverage, including one public station and MIR, the TV station of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). There are also 22 TV stations in regions
The relatively large number of broadcast media outlets may give the misleading impression of a diverse media landscape. However, media ownership is opaque. Many media exist for the sole purpose of supporting a specific political party or figure.
News sources
Television is by far the most popular source for information about politics and current events. However, when asked (in 2017) “how well do you think TVs in Armenia inform the population about what is actually going on in Armenia?” 14% of respondents replied “very poorly” and 25% “quite poorly”, compared to 11% who replied “quite well” and 2% who said “very well”, with 44% replying average.
Radio is used by only about 1% of Armenians as a source of news.
Few Armenians rely on newspapers as their main news source. Print runs are small (1,000-6,000) and most titles are owned by wealthy individuals or political parties.
Internet access is on the rise. More than 2 million Armenians are online; around 72.5% of the population (2018); most users access the web via mobile devices.
The language barrier forces many Armenian journalists to use Russian-language sources over western-language alternatives, given the former an edge.
Television
Public TV Company of Armenia – H1, is the leading domestic channel. The state-owned national channel, not considered yet a full public service broadcaster, was launched in November 1956.
Others channels, all private, include H2, the country’s second channel, a general-oriented channel with the largest coverage of Armenia.
Armenia TV, launched in 1999 by the US-based Cafesjian and Sarkisian family foundations, with its American offshoot launched in 2007
Kentron TV, established in 2002 (available terrestrially and via satellite,
Radio
Public radio of Armenia is the state-owned radio broadcaster. Its website offers news in Armenian, Azeri, English and Russian. Its International Public Radio of Armenia website offers web-based text news in six languages: Arabic, Assyrian, Farsi, Greek, Turkish and Yazidi; services in eight other languages were discontinued in 2016.
Foreign broadcasts and web content for Armenia
Russian TV is widely viewed in Armenia, as Russian is understood by most people. Russian state channels are included in cable packages, a few channels are available terrestrially.
Some international broadcasters provide Armenian-language services.
Russia’s Sputnik, the umbrella company for the foreign-language websites and radio broadcasts of the Rossiya Segodnya (Russia Today) news agency has an Armenian website that offers news and access to audio content.
The US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has two networks that provide services in Armenian (in addition to services in Russian).
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Armenian Service, Radio Azatutyuna, which produces content in Armenian and Russian, was established in 1953.
Every week it offers 20 hours and 40 minutes of radio content, and 100+ hours of TV.
Radio is distributed via FM, satellite, Internet, mobile devices, YouTube, social media, TV programmes are rebroadcast on some local channels.
Voice of America (VOA) Armenian Service, was established in June 1951. VOA describes it as “one of the agency’s smallest but most effective services, with a weekly reach of 32 percent in Armenia”.
The service’s programmes include
– A 10-minute TV report airing Monday through Friday.
– A 20-minute weekly TV magazine airing on Sundays and repeated on Mondays.
– The service produces also a daily five-minute segment for and Armenian TV show.
News from Armenian sources in English
A number of Armenia-based private and state news agencies and Internet news services offer news in English, and in some other languages
A1+, a news website – English-language pages
Arka a private news agency created in 1996 – English-language pages
Armenpress, state-run agency established in 1918 (reports in Arabic also) – English-language pages
Arminfo – a private news agency, created in 1991 – English-language pages
Mediamax, a private portal offering “news, analysis, exclusive interviews” – English-language pages
News.am – a private agency offering “timely and reliable news and information” (reports in Turkish also) – English-language pages
This wide range of media sources will ensure that ongoing political developments will be well covered and available in the country and abroad.
Research by AIB Media Analyst Morand Fachot.
