Government signal distributor Sentech is planning to launch a free-to-air satellite TV service based on its Vivid platform. This is according to a well-placed industry source. Sentech is a State Owned Enterprise (SOE) operating in the broadcasting signal distribution and telecommunications sectors and reporting to the Minister of Communications.

These plans follow news that E-tv sister company Platco Digital has plans to launch a subscription-free, high definition (HD) satellite TV service, which appears to have lit a fire under Sentech.

According to an industry source with knowledge of the project, government signal distributor Sentech is also planning to launch a free-to-air satellite TV service. Sentech already operates a free-to-air satellite TV service called Vivid, but it is understood that state-owned company wants to relaunch the platform, quite possibly under a new name.

Curiously, the industry source said that Sentech is aiming to launch towards the end of September 2013, a few days before Platco’s OpenView HD is scheduled to launch.

Sentech has plans to launch video on-demand, mobile, and personal video recording functionality next year (2014), the source said.

Sentech was asked about its free-to-air satellite plans, but declined to answer questions about it. The state-owned signal distributor said it would be releasing a statement on the matter soon.