LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 25, 2015--
Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), the world’s leading provider of satellite
services, announced today that Sentech, a leading broadcasting signal
distributor in Africa, has extended its contract for multiple years.
Sentech will continue to leverage Ku-band capacity on Intelsat 20 at
68.5˚E to cost-effectively expand and enhance its Direct-to-Home (DTH)
and Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) services in Africa.
The Intelsat 20 satellite will provide Sentech with an expansive
selection of nearly 500 channels, 31 of which are High Definition.
Leveraging the strength of Intelsat’s leading video neighborhood,
Sentech will maximize its efficiency as it distributes DTH as well as
national DTT programming to South African viewers using a single,
multiplexed transmission.
“Sentech is committed to providing comprehensive digital delivery
services to Africa and ensuring that our customers have access to high
quality, reliable and differentiated content,” said Leago Takalani,
Executive: Technology, Sentech. “As the rest of the continent continues
the migration to DTT, the power of Intelsat 20 will enable us to
efficiently deliver digital services to the largest number of viewers as
well as expand our customer base. Most importantly, it will enable us to
enhance our channel selection and deliver more affordable, entertaining
programming to viewers across multiple channels throughout South Africa.”
Intelsat currently provides proven DTT solutions in Africa, supported by
advanced coding and modulation techniques that enable efficient use of
bandwidth and improved reception quality, enabling African audiences to
enjoy the benefits of digital television. Intelsat hosts video
neighborhoods serving every continent. Supporting media applications
such as cable distribution, DTH and DTT, Intelsat’s neighborhoods offer
leading viewer penetration, maximizing the potential audience for
content.
“Intelsat 20 reaches more viewers in Africa than any other DTH platform,
making it an ideal video neighborhood to support Sentech’s growing
business needs,” said Rhys Morgan, Interim Sales Manager, Africa,
Intelsat. “Our ability to support and deploy both DTH and DTT
transmissions will enable Sentech to continue its customers’ seamless
migration to DTT. It will also provide Sentech with a greater array of
more affordable entertainment options to delight both existing and new
customers.”
Supporting Resources:
About Intelsat
Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) is the world’s leading provider of satellite
services, delivering high performance connectivity solutions for media,
fixed and mobile broadband infrastructure, enterprise and government and
military applications. Intelsat’s satellite, teleport and fiber
infrastructure is unmatched in the industry, setting the standard for
transmissions of video and broadband services. From the globalization of
content and the proliferation of HD, to the expansion of cellular
networks and mobile broadband access, with Intelsat, envision your
future network, connect using our leading satellite technology and
transform your opportunities. Envision…Connect…Transform…with Intelsat.
For more information, visit www.intelsat.com.
About Sentech
Sentech, a South African State Owned Company (SOC) is a premier provider
of electronic communications network services to the country’s
broadcasting and communications industry. Sentech provides broadcast
transmission services to SABC, eTV, MNet, Community Broadcasters, and
over 150 Radio Stations country wide only a daily basis. Sentech’s
infrastructure and data communications platforms also provide services
to the South African telecoms sector and mobile providers. Sentech is
mandated by Government to drive the migration of the country’s
broadcasting services from Analogue to Digital and has implemented world
class Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and a universal access
Direct-To-Home (DTH) satellite platform service to ensure access to
Digital Television for the country’s people. Sentech’s DVB-T2 network
will replace the current analogue infrastructure when Analogue Switch
Off is announced by Government. To date, the DTT network successfully
covers 100% of country’s population through 84% reach via the DVB-T2
terrestrial network and the remaining 16% via the Satellite DTH network.
Sentech is now focused on developing and rolling out open-access
multiscreen (Online, Mobile) platforms that will enrich SA’s digital
content distribution industry and ensure access to rich digital content
anywhere anytime on any device.
Sentech transformed its DTH business model to focus on providing
end-to-end wholesale platforms for new and existing broadcast operators
and other content distributors. This led in 2014 to the successful
launch of the OpenViewHD (OVHD) satellite TV service on Sentech’s
Intelsat 20 satellite platform for Platco/ETV. The OVHD Free-To-Air
service launched on September 21, 2014 and continues to grow its
offering and subscriber base on the back of a robust infrastructure and
reliable services. The Altech Node Video on Demand service also launched
in September 2014 using the Sentech DTH platform on Intelsat 20. The
Altech Node is a fully converged home gateway solution, offering the
latest in movie entertainment, TV series, sports and business content,
Internet access, and wireless smart home solutions.
http://www.sentech.co.za/
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150925005074/en/
Source: Intelsat
Intelsat
Michele Loguidice
Director, Investor Relations &
Corporate Communications
703-559-7372
Michele.loguidice@intelsat.com
