15 September 2015
Today, Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicações de Moçambique renewed its relationship with Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), one of the world’s leading providers of satellite services, for satellite solutions that will help the company deliver broadband connectivity to corporate networks and provide cellular backhaul services to support residents in remote areas of Mozambique.
Under the multi-year agreement, Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicações de Moçambique will use C-band capacity on Intelsat 902 at 62.0°E to provide dual band connectivity for its own transport network and use with local cellular operators. For a country such as Mozambique that is susceptible to heavy rainfall and flooding, C-band spectrum is particularly useful given its known performance and durability in adverse weather conditions.
“Our customers expect and deserve fast, reliable and continuous broadband connectivity regardless of location or weather,” said Zainadin Dalsuco, Chief Executive Officer, Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicações Moçambique. “By partnering with Intelsat, we can quickly scale our existing network to meet the increasing broadband demands in the remote areas of Mozambique and ensure that our network infrastructure is robust enough to retain and, as needed, quickly restore service to local cellular operators and their customers throughout the country.”
“Access to high-quality and consistent broadband connectivity is essential for socio-economic development and the continuous growth of businesses and local communities. Intelsat’s C-band satellite services are incredibly resilient and a great complement to a network operator’s existing infrastructure,” said Rhys Morgan, Interim Regional Sales Manager, Africa, Intelsat. “This partnership will allow Empresa Nacional de Telecoms Mozambique to provide a reliable, always-on broadband service that will enhance customer satisfaction, and with mobile penetration rates in the country at sixty nine percent, allow the company to extend its network into untapped areas of Mozambique.”
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14 September 2015
Fibersat S.A. today announced that it has signed a framework agreement with Arabsat for the acquisition of a HTS hosted payload in Ka Band on the upcoming Arabsat satellites with extensive coverage over African Markets. Fibersat is expected to commence operation in 2018.
The acquisition of this hosted payload is a major step forward for the new satellite operator. Fibersat has already signed up significant pre-launch orders with key telecommunication operators providing network services in the Africa region. At launch, Fibersat will be able to provide affordable internet access services to remote locations across the continent using low cost commercially available VSAT terminals.
“Fibersat has now taken the first step in realising the dream of ultra low cost broadband in Africa”, said Christof Kern, CEO of Fibersat. “By combining the benefits of a power-optimised HTS design and leveraging a hybrid satellite architecture, Fibersat will be able to offer customers unprecedented price levels for satellite services which is key in price-sensitive markets like Africa. This is the only way to meet the exploding demand for Internet in Africa, the fastest growing market in the world.”
“This cooperation with Fibersat will position Arabsat as a major service provider to the growing markets of sub Saharan Africa, with a portfolio of broadband and telecom services. By employing an innovative payload design in Ka band Arabsat will have blanket coverage over the MEA region” said Khalid Balkheyour, CEO of Arabsat.
“We look forward to Fibersat and Arabsat alliance to lead the African market for Ka band HTS bandwidth leveraging their significant pre-launch orders and look forward to their success in the African market”
About Fibersat
Fibersat is a new satellite operator with its HTS payload, Fibersat-1 planned for launch in 2018. Fibersat-1 will provide video, data and telecommunications services to mobile network operators, carriers, governments, ISPs and enterprises in the Africa. Fibersat’s optimised payload design will allow for satellite services to be delivered at the cost of fiber throughout Africa.
For more information, please contact info@fibersat.com or visit www.fibersat.com.
About Arabsat
Founded in 1976, Arabsat has been serving the growing needs of the Arab world for over 30 years. Now one of the world’s top satellite operators and by far the leading satellite services provider in the Arab world, it carries over 500 TV channels, 160 radio stations, pay-TV networks and wide variety of HD channels reaching tens of millions of homes in more than 80 countries across the Middle East, Africa and Europe—including an audience of over 170 million viewers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region alone tuned into Arabsat’s video “hotspot” at 26° E.
Operating a growing fleet of owned satellites at the 20° E, 26° E, 30.5° E , 34° E, 39° E positions, ARABSAT is the only satellite operator in the MENA region offering the full spectrum of Broadcast, Telecommunications and Broadband services. This capacity will continue to expand with the launching of new satellites, making ARABSAT satellites’ fleet the youngest in the region.
www.arabsat.com
(Source: Arabsat press release)
11 September 2015
SES S.A. (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) and Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL), the two leading satellite companies in the global video distribution market, today announce a new, industry-wide initiative to develop and promote next-generation video technologies, standards and formats, focusing initially on the reception of satellite services on any screen and on converged broadcast-broadband technologies.
Called the Future Video Initiative, this new project will assemble representative companies in the converged video value chain to ensure that users everywhere will be able to benefit from a consistent, high quality, state-of-the-art video experience anywhere, anytime and on any device.
The Initiative was unveiled at the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC), one of the largest broadcast technology conventions, held annually in Amsterdam.
Experience and feedback on services currently delivering content anywhere, anytime, on any device highlight the challenges of ensuring in parallel high user satisfaction and the largest technical reach. Users want consistent media quality across multiple devices; content distributors have to cope with an ever-increasing growth of media traffic on their networks and therefore want to optimise their investments through maximum audience reach at the most competitive distribution cost.
The Future Video Initiative will seek to support existing initiatives, alliances, associations, roadmaps and technical standardisation bodies. Its initial scope of work will focus on promoting integrated hybrid broadcast-broadband solutions that increase the reach of HD and Ultra HD with the highest quality, while optimising network costs and meeting the promise of interactive services. It will also facilitate the reception of satellite services on any screen, at home and in public places.
“Through this initiative, we want to send a clear signal to the industry and public that we need to drive digitalisation and the evolution of our broadcast-broadband ecosystems,” said Karim Michel Sabbagh and Michel de Rosen, CEOs of SES and Eutelsat Communications, respectively. “The Future Video Initiative is open to all stakeholders and is a catalyst for digital development. The start of this initiative is underpinned by the commitment of two leading satellite operators to bring the best of their infrastructures to support the innovations, roadmaps, standardisations and frameworks necessary to respond to the future needs of consumers and deliver on time on the inclusive promise of a top-quality media experience for the broadest range of users.”
Additional information on the Future Video Initiative and how to join will be shortly available.
(Source: SES press release)
11 September 2015
Kabuki in Las Vegas!
Oct 9 Fri 23:10/ Sat 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC) Oct 9 Fri 23:10/ Sat 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC)
In a spectacular clash between traditional Japanese theater and cutting-edge visual effects, Kabuki star Ichikawa Somegoro takes on a giant carp over the fountains of a famous Las Vegas resort. We go behind the scenes to follow the development of this unprecedented project right up to its dazzling climax.
SHIBUYA CROSSINGS
Oct 23 Fri 23:10/ Sat 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC)
Beyond its status as one of the world’s busiest intersections, Shibuya’s “scramble” crossing is also the symbol of a district that remains a magnet for young people. Some are chasing their dreams, while others try to leave their past behind. Through a series of interviews and intimate portraits, this program explores the mindset of a generation that’s struggling to find its place in the world.
ABU Children’s Dramas 2015
Oct 30 Fri 23:10/ Sat 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC)
Three heart-warming dramas produced by the members of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union; PBS in Thailand, RTM in Malaysia and NHK in Japan. All three stories highlight personal growth in children.
ct 30 Fri 23:10/ Sat 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC)
ABU Robot Contest “Badminton Robo-Game”
Battle to be the world’s best
Oct 31 Sat 0:10/ 6:10/ 12:10/ 18:10 (UTC)
The 14th annual ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest was held in the ancient city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, this year. The international student competition featured unique hand-built racket-wielding robots battling it out in badminton matches. What tactics did the contestants use to knock out the opposition? We followed the teams, including students from Japan, Vietnam, and China as they took on the challenge.
(Source: NHK WORLD TV press release)
9 September 2015
SES Platform Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES S.A. (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), has announced its new product, LUCID online video platform (OVP). The solution comprises all the building blocks a customer will need to launch its own online video offering, from setting up an Internet-TV channel to on-demand services: Video Processing (including Content Ingest, Management, and Encoding, Transcoding, DRM Integration and Playout); Monetisation Services, with support of flexible business models (such as SVoD, TVoD); and Applications with an intuitive and easy-to-use User Interface (for iOS, Android) and an HTML5 realisation for an IP Box.
LUCID OVP is an integral part of SES Platform Services’ new “Media Toolbox” concept. The Media Toolbox is a modular all-in-one solution for the optimal distribution of audio-visual content. From linear distribution to all forms of on-demand services, it covers all technological aspects in a highly flexible and scalable way, reducing technical complexity for customers in order that they can concentrate on their core business.
Combining Linear TV Streaming, Catch-up TV and video-on-demand (VoD) into one powerful online video platform, LUCID OVP is a complete, ready-to-launch, end-to-end solution for Platform Operators, Broadcasters and OTT-Players looking to optimise their operations and boost subscriber growth. It allows platform operators to create an online video and multi-screen user experience to complement their video strategy. Also, broadcasters and content providers can easily and quickly set up an online video service as a supplement to Direct-to-Home (DTH) services to address new customer groups.
“For many broadcasters, broadcasting linear TV programmes is just not enough anymore. People watch more and more online and mobile content. With ready-to-start workflows and ‘out-of-the-box’ features, LUCID OVP ensures fast time-to-market and enables our customers to reach viewers and customers anywhere and on any device. We have been a leading provider of backend services, and now we can also deliver our customers everything for the front-end to create a great user experience,” said Daniel Kiessling, Senior Manager Solution Management SES Platform Services.
LUCID OVP will be presented at the SES stand at Hall 1, stand 1.B51 during IBC 2015, Amsterdam. (Source: SES press release)
8 September 2015
Arqiva today announced that it will be providing Video on Demand (VoD) processing, delivery and streaming services for Turner Broadcasting across 32 of its platforms around Europe. To meet Turner Broadcasting’s November delivery cycles, Arqiva will commence processing its assets for VoD at the end of September. The VoD service adds to the portfolio of managed services that Arqiva has been delivering to Turner Broadcasting for over two years, covering satellite distribution and play-out of content to 24 channels in Europe.
As a tier one broadcaster, with responsibility for prestigious children’s and entertainment brands such as Cartoon Network, Boomerang, TCM and Boing!, Turner Broadcasting relies on a strong partnership with Arqiva to provide a fully-managed, high-quality, always-on service that can scale to the volume of its audience base. With the addition of VoD, Turner Broadcasting viewers will now be able to pick the content they want to watch, when they want to watch it and how they want to watch it
Rick Cole, SVP, International IT and Network Operations, Turner Broadcasting said: “We are committed to giving our audience the freedom to watch our content whenever and wherever they want to, and the Arqiva Video on Demand service will help us to achieve this. Arqiva is a proven and valued managed service provider and, as our partnership continues to evolve, I look forward to being able to deliver more innovative solutions to delight our audience base.”
David Crawford, Managing Director Satellite and Media at Arqiva, commented: “Arqiva strives to deliver a scalable broadcast quality managed service across the value chain. We are moving closer to making the ‘create once, publish anywhere’ aspiration a reality for our customers across both traditional and OTT services. Our relationship with Turner Broadcasting is proof of this and we look forward to continuing to work together to provide cost-effective, outsourced solutions to help support the growth of their business.”
Arqiva’s Video on Demand (VoD) service will be demoed on-stand 1.B61 at this year’s IBC conference, from 10th to 15th September.
