VIA EUTELSAT :: The news from Africa

The Associated Press opens up its Africa newswire service on Ku-band via W3A
The Associated Press (AP) is one of the world’s leading news agencies, supplying a stream of news around the clock to its members, subscribers and commercial customers across the world.

Earlier this year, AP announced that it was to extend its relationship with Eutelsat through the lease of capacity on the W3A satellite serving Africa. The five-year fractional transponder lease was put in place to enable AP to upload its Africa newswire service to W3A and deliver it direct to daily newspaper, radio, television and online customers across sub-Saharan Africa.

Easier access using smaller dishes
By transferring from a C-band network to Ku-band, AP’s partners in Africa can now receive a more accessible service using smaller dishes. In addition to capacity, Eutelsat is providing AP with a turnaround service to W3A via its Rambouillet teleport near Paris.

As well as developments over Africa, Eutelsat and AP have also renewed their long-term working partnership for delivering news and data in the wider European and Middle East region with a new contract for capacity across three transponders on Eutelsat’s W1 satellite. AP’s text, photos and video services are distributed via W1 with the majority of capacity used for contribution transmissions, as well as two-way data links between AP and its global client base across this important region.

AP Television News
In addition to its 24-hour online news service, The Associated Press operates a digital photo network service and a television news service called AP Television News (APTN). With over 80 bureaus worldwide, linked by a network of global satellites and fibre, APTN provides breaking video news, sports, and entertainment content to over 500 broadcast newsrooms, portals, web, broadband and mobile customers across the globe.

AP’s satellite and fibre network carries over 150,000 transmissions a year, with Eutelsat satellites providing essential components.

Commenting on the expansion of The Associated Press use of Eutelsat satellites Daniel Lynch, Head of Communications Technology & Strategy said of the recent developments between AP and Eutelsat; “AP has successfully worked with Eutelsat to expand our services in Europe and the Middle East, especially transmission services. We now turn to Eutelsat to support us in Africa. I am confident they will do an outstanding job”.

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