Yahlive Secures Additional MonacoSAT Capacity from SES
Luxembourg, 17 December, 2015 – SES (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) announced today that SES and YahLive – a company jointly established by SES and Yahsat – have agreed access for YahLive to additional capacity at the 52.0 / 52.5 degrees East orbital positions. This results in additional growth potential, increased reliability and overall attractiveness of the YahLive Direct-To-Home (DTH) neighbourhood, covering the Middle East and North Africa – and extending into Europe.
Through this agreement, SES and YahLive will jointly commercialise twelve MonacoSAT Ku-band transponders.
Ferdinand Kayser, Chief Commercial Officer at SES, commented: “This deal is an example of our ability to make long-lasting positive changes to the satellite broadcasting landscape, bringing significant new capacity to a region in which we see dynamic growth and permitting broadcasters of the vibrant MENA video market to split their content across two co-located satellites.”
Sami Boustany, CEO of YahLive, added: “This deal is a testimony to the maturity of 52.5 degrees East as a regional hot spot. It also brings with it needed backup and expansion capabilities to both YahLive and its customers.”
Back in July 2013 satellite operator SES confirmed an earlier agreement with Space Systems International Monaco for access to its SSI-Monaco satellite’s transponders.
The satellite was launched earlier this year on April 27th, and is orbiting at 52 deg East and is undoubtedly an interesting ‘hot spot’ for the region.
The craft has 38 active Ku-band transponders operating over 3 beams. The Turkmenistan Ministry of Communications is keeping 26 transponders and 12 are leased to SES.
The Abu Dhabi-based YahSat/Yahlive operation is now taking an initial 4 transponders. YahLive itself is a joint-venture between YahSat of Abu Dhabi and SES. The YahLive segment of transponders operates from 52.5 deg East, and would thus be seen as co-located with the Turkmenistan/Monaco craft.
YahLive’s existing Ku-band transmissions from YahSat 1A are now near-full, and company sources say they are hopeful that the added 4 transponders will add flexibility to its offering.
About SES
SES (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) is the world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of more than 50 geostationary satellites. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide.
SES stands for long-lasting business relationships, high-quality service and excellence in the satellite industry. The culturally diverse regional teams of SES are located around the globe and work closely with customers to meet their specific satellite bandwidth and service requirements.
SES holds a participation in O3b Networks, a next generation satellite network combining the reach of satellite with the speed of fibre.
Further information available at: www.ses.com.
Source: http://www.ses.com/4233325/news/2015/21844781 – Advanced-television.com
