satellites
IMAGE GALLERY

W2 :: 16° EAST


The W2 satellite provides a fixed widebeam coverage, spanning Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, and a steerable coverage.

Ten channels can be individually configured for operation via either of the two coverages. The remaining channels are connected to the Widebeam, offering enhanced capability for television and multimedia broadcasting. The steerable coverage is positioned over the Indian Ocean for broadcasting digital television services to Mauritius and Reunion Island and includes a large part of south-eastern Africa.

As well as being one of Eutelsat’s most long-standing orbital positions, 16 degrees East is an important video location for satellite TV broadcasting to homes in Central and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East, as well as to islands in the Indian Ocean region. Seven pay-TV platforms and almost 400 TV channels are already broadcasting from this orbital location.

These markets are witnessing dynamic expansion. Cable and satellite reception in Central and Eastern Europe has been recording double digit growth over the last five years and in the Balkans, the number of subscribers to pay-TV platforms has grown more than fourfold over the last two years. These markets have rapidly adopted digital TV and more recently HDTV.

Launch date: 05/10/98
Launch details: Ariane IV (V111)
Satellite construction: Alcatel Space Industries

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