...the order announced by Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) of a new satellite from Thales Alenia Space. Called EUTELSAT 8 West B, the high-capacity spacecraft will be launched in 2015 to 8 degrees West, joining satellites already operated at the adjacent 7 degrees West position by Eutelsat and the Egyptian satellite company, Nilesat. Broadcasting services from these positions are received by satellite TV homes with a single, small, DTH dish.

Artistic rendition of the EUTELSAT 8 West B satellite, courtesy of Thales Group

More than 30 million homes in North Africa and the Middle East are already equipped for DTH reception of more than 800 Arabic and international channels broadcast at this position by Eutelsat and Nilesat. Free-to-air (FTA) accounts for the majority of the offer (500 channels), while HD take-up is accelerating, currently representing 50 channels. The additional capacity will meet further expansion in a satellite broadcasting market where capacity demand for video services is forecast to grow by 6.8 percent a year over the coming five years (source Euroconsult). HDTV channels are expected to increase fourfold over the coming ten years.

The EUTELSAT 8 West B satellite will be equipped with 40 operational Ku-band transponders designed primarily to serve DTH markets in North Africa and the Middle East. It will also introduce a C-band mission, with 10 operational transponders connected to footprints covering the African continent and reaching west to South America. Eutelsat will redeploy an existing high-power Ku-band satellite to 8 degrees West in 2013. This will increase resources in advance of the launch of EUTELSAT 8 West B, enabling more broadcasters to benefit from a prime neighborhood.