Astrium selected
to build new
RSCC satellite
for 36° East
15 May 2013
RSCC (the
Russian
Satellite
Communications
Company) and
Eutelsat
Communications
announced that
Astrium has been
selected to
build the
Express-AMU1/EUTELSAT
36C satellite
that will be
launched in 2015
to provide
follow-on and
expansion
capacity for the
EUTELSAT 36A
broadcast
satellite
operating at 36°
East.
Express-AMU1/EUTELSAT
36C will be a
state-of-the-art
high-capacity
satellite with
up to 70
transponders. It
will provide
coverage for
broadcast
services in the
European part of
the Russian
Federation in Ku
and Ka bands,
and ensure
service
continuity and
growth for
broadcast
markets
developed by
Eutelsat in
sub-Saharan
Africa. Its
dual-band design
is set to
transform the
broadcasting
infrastructure
at 36° East into
a broader system
to support more
television
services and
IP-based
interactive
services to
accompany the
development of
Russia's digital
entertainment
market.
24% of Russian
homes equipped
for satellite TV
reception
The latest
results of the
survey produced
by Eutelsat and
Ipsos on TV
reception modes
and trends in
Russia
underscore the
exceptional
dynamic of its
satellite
broadcasting
market and the
stellar growth
of homes
watching
channels
broadcast from
the longstanding
36° East
neighbourhood.
Of the 53
million TV homes
in Russia, 24%
are equipped for
Direct-to-Home
(DTH) satellite
reception,
making satellite
the country's
leading platform
for digital
television. The
number of
satellite homes
across Russia
maintains a
strong dynamic,
increasing by
25% over two
years from eight
million to 12.6
million. Ten per
cent of these
homes receive
signals from
more than one
satellite
position, taking
the total number
of antennas to
13.8 million.
Strong channel
and audience
momentum at 36°
East
neighbourhood
Within this
universe, the
number of homes
equipped for DTH
reception from
36° East has
increased over
24 months to
10.7 million
from 6.7
million,
reflecting the
high level of
demand for the
TricolorTV
platform and the
success of NTV+.
Over the same
period, the
volume of
Russian channels
broadcasting
from 36° East
has jumped to
over 370 from
250. Meanwhile,
the number of
homes in Russia
receiving
international
and Russian
channels
broadcast by
Eutelsat's HOT
BIRD satellites
also continues
to grow,
reaching a new
record of 1.7
million, up from
1.3 million two
years before.
In the words of
Yuri Prokhorov,
RSCC Director
general: "The 36
degrees East
orbital slot
serves as an
excellent
example of
successful and
mutually
beneficial
Russian-French
cooperation. We
are happy that
our partnership
with Eutelsat is
taking another
step forward.
The upcoming
Express AMU-1
satellite will
afford fresh
opportunities
for digital
multi-programme
broadcasting
projects in
European Russia.
DTH users will
gain access to
high-quality
state-of-the-art
TV including HD
and 3D TV, as
well as to
modern
communications
and interactive
services."
Eutelsat CEO,
Michel de Rosen,
said: "Driven by
NTV+ and
TricolorTV's new
HD offer, this
trajectory of
stellar growth
has continued
since our
findings,
further
consolidating
36° East as the
place to be in
Russia's vibrant
digital
broadcast
market. Our
objective now
with RSCC is to
take this
leading video
neighbourhood to
the next level
with the
procurement of a
new satellite
from Astrium
designed to
support
increasing
demand and a new
generation of
interactive
services."
