Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat is establishing a “unified” broadcasting neighbourhood for Africa with Tel Aviv-based Spacecom, which operates the Amos fleet of satellites.

The long-anticipated agreement sees the two companies establish a framework for cross-commercialisation of Ku-band capacity connected to the high-power African service areas of Eutelsat’s Eutelsat 16A satellite at 16° East and Spacecom’s Amos-5 satellite at 17° East. The combined channel line-up of both satellites already comprises over 100 free-to-air African and international channels that can be received by standard 80cm dishes in a vast footprint covering over 30 million TV homes located notably in Francophone Africa and extending to Ghana and Nigeria.

Leveraging their respective knowledge of Africa’s fast-growing broadcast markets, the two operators will pool their commercial efforts to ignite further growth at the 16-17° East position, which is already the leading DTH and free-to-air video neighbourhood in West Africa. In addition to improving the quality and effectiveness of broadcasting services, the agreement “raises the bar” for service continuity for broadcasters and will deliver viewers a larger channel line-up from one virtual orbital position.

“Launched in 2011 and equipped with identical Ku-band African footprints, the Eutelsat 16A and Amos-5 satellites host free-to-air channels as well as pay-TV, DTT and free-to-view platforms for media companies who are increasingly turning to satellites as the fastest and most competitive route to digital content delivery,” said a joint press statement.

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