This year sees the two major networking
events, CABSAT in Dubai and SatCom Africa
in Johannesburg, opening their doors at a
time of significant momentum for digital video
and broadband services.
In this context, the last few months have seen
the successful launch of two new satellites for
Eutelsat, HOT BIRD™ 7A and HOT BIRD™
8 at 13° East, and the in-orbit redeployment
of ATLANTIC BIRD™ 4 to 7° West. The new
capacity provided by these three satellites
has been used to support an impressive 37%
rise in the number of channels carried by our
fleet to a figure in excess of 2 400. Reflecting
the dynamics of emerging markets, half of
this expansion has been due to demand in
eastern and central Europe, the Middle East
and Africa, regions accounting for more than
300 new TV channels in the last 12 months
and which we shall naturally be showcasing
in this issue.
We also invite you to discover the main
results of our latest survey. These reveal that
satellite and cable reception in Europe, North
Africa and the Middle East has expanded
twice as fast as the increase in television
homes, passing 50 per cent penetration in
42 countries. The same survey also confirms
the leading role of Eutelsat’s HOT BIRD™
neighbourhood, where audience reach
progressed to 121 million homes by the end
of 2006, while breaking through the barrier of
1000 channels.
Of course, an overview of recent developments
would not be complete without addressing
the take-up of HDTV, which is now carried on
17 channels in our fleet and saw more than
25% of the live links and television exchanges
between broadcasters routed via our satellites
for the Football World Cup. To comment on
short and medium-term growth prospects for
HD, we have invited a senior IDATE analyst,
Jacques Bajon, to give us his expert view.
As well as video markets, satellite-based data
and broadband services continue to experience
rapid expansion for applications such as
Internet access, backbone connectivity, VoIP,
GSM trunking, and content feeds to fixed
or mobile transmitters. These markets now
represent just over 15% of the global revenues
of Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) operators
and 20% of Eutelsat’s business. Via Eutelsat
invites you to read about some of the latest
deployments of new broadband solutions for
enterprises, local administrations and NGOs.
We also talk to Antonio Arcidiacono, Eutelsat’s
Director of Innovation, about the recent joint
venture with SES Global to develop Europe’s
first satellite infrastructure in S-band. This will
be used for the delivery of mobile broadcast
services direct to user terminals, for a wide
range of applications from entertainment
services to security-based communications.
We look forward to meeting you at CABSAT
and SatCom Africa and to working with you
on the continued development of satellite
communications throughout Africa, the Middle
East and central Asia.
Olivier Milliès-Lacroix
Commercial Director
