Eutelsat Communications and MultiChoice Africa have signed an agreement that is expected to ensure the continuous expansion of the DStv platform. The deal is expected to have a duration of 15 years. The multi-transponder contract further anchors Eutelsat’s neighbourhood of high-power satellites as the key point of reference for broadcasting in sub-Saharan Africa.
According to reports, MultiChoice Africa will take advantage of the entire payload of 15 Ku-band transponders connected to the African service area of the Eutelsat 36C satellite. The satellite is expected to launch in 2015. In advance of the launch, MultiChoice has also booked two transponders on the Eutelsat 36A broadcast satellite that provides reach of the 38 countries in sub-Saharan Africa served by the DStv platform.
Following the launch of Eutelsat 36C, MultiChoice Africa will be leasing a total of 36 Eutelsat transponders, up from 25 today. In addition to securing bandwidth for new Standard Definition and High Definition channels and services, the agreement equips MultiChoice Africa with in-orbit back-up capacity that will increase network continuity.
