Eutelsat’s 'dynamic' numbers

Eutelsat’s latest trading statement, issued Nov 4, for the period to the end of September, confirmed that business is good right across the whole European satellite sector. In fact, Eastern Europe and Russia is proving to be the “hot” region for the market.

"Eutelsat is confident of meeting its objective of more than €900m of revenue for fiscal year 2008-2009 and an objective of a compound average growth rate of 6% for the period 2008-2011, accelerating during the period," Chairman and CEO Giuliano Berretta (pictured, above) said.

Berretta added that Eutelsat is now carrying a record 3180 channels (up 16.4%) across its fleet, of which 63 are in high definition.

In terms of in-orbit resources, December will be marked by the launch of the first two satellites in the company’s robust investment programme of seven satellites to enter service by the end of 2010. “This programme will enable us to increase our in-orbit Ku-band capacity by 30%, raise in-orbit security at key video neighbourhoods to industry-leading levels, and radically expand resources for Ka-band consumer broadband services to significantly contribute to bridging the digital divide in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. With this roadmap we can look to the future with confidence.”

Eutelsat’s “second continent” is performing at an exceptional rate. Two positions are key:
• The 9° East neighbourhood (occupied by Eurobird 9) which has continued gaining momentum since commercialisation was initiated in May 2007. With the strong attraction of this neighbourhood’s proximity to Eutelsat’s Hot Bird neighbourhood at 13° East, which broadcasts almost 1,100 channels, Eurobird 9 was broadcasting 115 channels by the end of the first quarter, of which 15 in High Definition. The new Roots Global platform increased its offer of channels from the Indian subcontinent for expatriate audiences in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The quarter was also marked by the launch at the 9° East neighbourhood of the new Russian platform, Platforma HD, for broadcasting to western Russia.
• The 36° East neighbourhood (occupied by W4 and SESAT 1) which, with 419 channels, posted a 36% year-on-year increase in channels, highlighting the continued strong dynamic of satellite broadcasting in Russia and Africa.
• The 16° East position (occupied by W2) which showed an 11% increase in channels, with 363 channels broadcasting by 30 September. Serbia Broadband notably boosted its capacity at this neighbourhood for its Total TV pay-TV platform in the Balkan markets.
• The 7/8° West neighbourhood (Atlantic Bird 4 and 2) which registered a 49.2% increase in channels to 276 broadcasting in North Africa and the Middle East at 30 September 2008. Nilesat is also highly active at this spot.