New Eutelsat satellite to boost broadcasting in Africa

The North African satellite market is to get a new boost with satellite operator Eutelsat Communications announcing that it is to develop and build the Eutelsat 8 West B in order to bolster the capacity of broadcasting in the North Africa and Middle East regions.

The North African satellite market is to get a new boost with satellite operator Eutelsat Communications (image: file)

According to the company, the new satellite will be launched in 2015, “joining satellites already operated at the adjacent 7 degree west position by Eutelsat and the Egyptian satellite company, Nilesat.”

The move should see immediate impact upon delivery, with signals being boosted and a number of new channels and operators able to offer their services to customers across the region.

Broadcasting services from both positions are received by satellite TV homes with a single small DTH dish. The Eutelsat 8 West B satellite will be equipped with 40 operational Ku-band transponders designed to serve DTH markets in North Africa and the Middle East.

“It will also introduce a C-band mission to 8 degree west, with ten operational transponders connected to footprints covering the African continent and reaching west to South America.

“Eutelsat will redeploy an existing Ku-band satellite to 8 degree west in 2013. This will increase resources in advance of the launch of Eutelsat 8 West B,” the company said in announcing the new satellite.

Analysts in the region say that as countries are expected to begin pushing a transfer from analogue to digital broadcasting, the new satellite will help alleviate such efforts and reduce loss of services in the region.

Joseph Mayton