State Unitary Enterprise “Centre of Radio Communication, Broadcasting and Television” (SUE CRRT) of the Republic of Uzbekistan will rely on SES Video for the upcoming launch of its first DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television) multiplex, using NSS-12 at 57 degrees East to transmit TV signals to all head-ends of its DTT network.

Under the multi-year agreement announced by SES, SUE CRRT, which is Uzbekistan’s sole operator of analog and terrestrial TV distribution, has contracted satellite capacity to deliver a minimum of 12 Free-To-Air (FTA) TV channels in SD and four radio channels from the Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, to all DTT head-ends throughout the country.

Artistic rendition of the SES NSS-12 satellite.

Mr. Turgunov M., Technical Director at SUE CRRT, noted that  the launch of this first digital terrestrial multiplex is a significant step forward for the analog switchover process in Uzbekistan. This network will cover the entire territory, offering new viewing possibilities to a potential audience of 31.5 million people. As Uzbekistan is one of the largest countries in Central Asia, with desert and mountainous areas, satellite is the only reliable technology that can enable the transmissions to reach the entire population as well as neighboring countries, and beyond.

Norbert Hölzle, SVP, Commercial Europe at SES Video, added that SUE CRRT already entrusted SES with the carriage of state TV and radio channels for DTH and cable contribution two years ago — this new contract clearly underscores SES’s position as the satellite provider of choice for Central Asia, more particularly the Republic of Uzbekistan.