Eutelsat at IBC: Reaching New Heights in Broadcast and Broadband Markets
AMSTERDAM, September 9, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
- 10-14 September, RAI Amsterdam, Stand 1D59
Highlights
- KA-SAT -Quantum leap in bandwidth for broadband
- Tooway(TM) - Premiere of new-generation antenna and terminal
- ORANGE 3D - Making 3DTV a reality "en France"
- HDTV - Rapidly redefining pay-TV
- New Eutelsat satellites - Driving digital growth in dynamic
markets
Eutelsat, Europe's leading satellite operator, will display digital solutions at the heart of broadcast and Internet markets at this year's IBC, the premier annual conference and exhibition for professionals engaged in the creation, management and delivery of entertainment and media content. New Eutelsat services, technologies and satellites are designed to support broadcasters, service providers, telecom operators and Internet Service Providers, enabling them to enhance delivery of their digital services to professional and consumer markets.
KA-SAT - Quantum leap in bandwidth for broadband
Eutelsat was the pioneer satellite company in Europe for TV broadcasting, and is once again breaking new ground with the launch in December this year of Europe's first High-Throughput Satellite for broadband, data and video services.
Due to enter service in spring 2011, KA-SAT will be the world's most powerful multi-spotbeam Ka-band satellite, operating in combination with an advanced ground network of ten gateways linked by a high capacity fibre ring to four major European Points of Presence. The 70 Gbps of capacity provided by this new infrastructure will herald significant economic advantages for point-to-point video and data applications across Europe and the Mediterranean Basin.
The KA-SAT infrastructure will be the new European platform powering the next generation of Eutelsat's Tooway(TM) consumer broadband service, boosting consumer download speeds to 10 Mbps and uploads to 4 Mbps. At IBC, the new 77cm antenna and modem for Tooway(TM) will be on display for the first time. Currently available through Eutelsat's HOT BIRD(TM) 6 and EUROBIRD(TM) 3 satellites, Tooway(TM) is already provided in Europe by more than 60 distributors in 30 countries. Leading telecom operators, ISPs and regional service providers have already integrated Tooway(TM) into their portfolio of broadband products, ensuring that homes and businesses beyond terrestrial networks can access digital services at high speed.
3D - Coming to a cinema and a sitting room near you
With the launch in spring 2009 of Europe's first 3D demonstration channel, Eutelsat was the first satellite player in Europe to contribute to the new video revolution which is transforming the viewing experience in both out-of-home and in-the-home environments. Some of the flagship events delivered in 3D over the last six months by Eutelsat satellites include Six Nations Rugby, the FIFA World Cup and French and US tennis championships.
La 3D by Orange - Making 3DTV a reality "en France"
At this year's IBC, Eutelsat will show the commercial reality of this new video market, with a display of la 3D by Orange, France's first commercial 3DTV service, broadcast from the HOT BIRD(TM) position to homes in France unable to receive video content via ADSL. This new venture from Orange will enable viewers to immerse themselves in live sports, cultural and music events and VoD content such as cinema and documentaries, and underscores how satellites are a key component of digital infrastructure.
HDTV - Rapidly redefining pay-TV
While the universe of Standard Digital channels continues to expand - Eutelsat registering the arrival of almost 400 channels over the last 12 months - HD roll-out is accelerating as satellite pay-TV operators integrate premium HD content as a differentiating factor next to terrestrial platforms.
Eutelsat's range of video positions serving markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa are a key accelerator for HDTV. More than 150 channels are already broadcast, with leading pay-TV platforms such as Sky Italia investing in HD technology to broadcast 36 HD channels today and 50 by 2011. Eutelsat forecasts that its satellites will be broadcasting over 500 channels in the coming five years.
Eutelsat's stand will display the crystal-clear definition of HD content broadcast from four video positions (13degrees East, 16degrees East, 9degrees East and 5degrees West) by SKY Italia's SKY Sport, channels, Albania's DigitAlb and France's FRANSAT platform, as well as i-concert (the HD Concert music channel).
New satellites - Driving digital growth in dynamic markets
Eutelsat is committed to expanding and constantly enhancing its in-orbit resources with new satellites adding greater operational flexibility, capacity and reach. Seven satellites are in construction and scheduled for launch over the coming three years, driving up capacity by 25%. They are as follows:
- W3B is scheduled for launch end October 2010 to 16 degrees
East, where its initial mission will be to renew and double capacity
for digital TV in Central and Eastern Europe and French-speaking Indian
Ocean islands. This new satellite will also open new resources for data
services over Africa.
- KA-SAT will usher in a new era for satellite-delivered broadband
services in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin, and support
development of video and data services.
- W3C will replace W3B satellite at 16 degrees East allowing the
latter to be relocated to 7 degrees East where it will be copositioned
with Eutelsat's W3A satellite. This configuration will enable Eutelsat
to offer significantly enhanced security from 7 degrees East for
clients requesting this service, and to increase operational
transponders at this neighbourhood by more than 50 per cent.
- ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 7 will replace the ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 4A
satellite at 7 degrees West, a key video position for digital
broadcasting in the Middle East and North Africa, operated in close
collaboration with the Egyptian satellite operator Nilesat.
- W6A will replace the W6 satellite to increase by more than 50%
the resources available at 21.5 degrees East, a core neighbourhood
anchored for data, professional video and government services across
Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.
- W5A will replace W5 to more than double resources available at
70.5 degrees East. It will be used for a range of professional
applications that include government services, broadband access, GSM
backhauling and professional video exchanges in Europe, Africa and
Central and South-East Asia.
- EUROBIRD(TM) 2A is being built in the framework of a partnership
with ictQATAR, representing the state of Qatar, its mission will be to
replace EUROBIRD(TM) 2 satellite at 25.5 degrees East. Its payload of
46 transponders in Ku and Ka bands will be shared with ictQATAR.
About Eutelsat Communications
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 26 satellites that provide coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues. At 30 June 2010, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting more than 3,600 television channels. More than 1,100 channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East which serves over 120 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Group's satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates access to high speed internet services through teleports in France and Italy that serve enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ nearly 661 commercial, technical and operational employees from 28 countries.
SOURCE Eutelsat Communications
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