[Satellite TODAY Insider 01-18-11] Eutelsat continued its fast-paced start to 2011, signing a launch contract with Arianespace and a capacity deal with Eastern European telco T-Hrvatski Telekom (T-HT) in Croatia, Eutelsat announced Jan. 17.
    Arianespace will launch a Eutelsat satellite on an Ariane 5 rocket from the Guiana Space Center in 2012 as part of Eutelsat’s in-orbit expansion program of six satellites to be launched by mid-2013. It is Arianespace’s 26th launch contract with Eutelsat.
    Eutelsat’s 10-year capacity contract with T-HT will see the customer utilize three satellite transponders to help support its MAXtv service, which launched as an IP platform in September 2006. The capacity also will help T-HT consolidate its position in Croatia’s digital television market, as the new satellite service aims to optimize the footprint of MAXtv to viewers beyond range of its ADSL network, particularly to semi-urban, rural communities and Croatian islands in the Adriatic.
     For T-HT’s ADSL subscribers, a new hybrid box will be offered to enable users to benefit from interactive services through the DSL network and a broad range of digital and HD television delivered by satellite.
    “We are very proud of the fact that MAXtv, as the first interactive pay-TV service in the region, is now available across the entire territory of the Republic of Croatia thanks to our satellite capacity deal with Eutelsat. Being aware of the limited possibilities for growth in the traditional mobile and fixed telephony market, we at HT focused on the strengthening of our position in the media and entertainment segment by constant development of innovative products and services. This makes MAXtv the first digital television in Croatia and we are also the first in the Deutsche Telekom Group to introduce this hybrid service,” T-HT President Ivica Mudrinić said in a statement.
    This is the second deal that Eutelsat has signed in Eastern Europe this month. Earlier in January, DigitAlb extended its contract with Eutelsat for an extra three years for five transponders on satellites operating at its 16 degrees East video neighborhood.

Related Stories-

Eutelsat’s Ka-Sat Reaches Orbital Slot; Scheduled to Begin Service in May   Satellite Today   January 14, 2011
[Satellite TODAY 01-14-11] Eutelsat Communications has positioned the Ka-Sat satellite at its definitive location at 9 degrees East and will begin a series of in-orbit tests as it prepares to enter commercial service in May, the operator…

NTV Plus Exec Expects Strong Pay-TV Growth in Russia    Satellite News   January 12, 2011
[Satellite News 01-12-10] NTV Plus, one of a new wave of DTH operators in Eastern Europe, is aiming to be the pay-TV market leader in the lucrative Russian market, with plans to launch a 3-D TV offering. NTV Plus Director General Dimitry…

Morgan Stanley Sees Bright Future for Satellite Market in 2011    Satellite Today   January 11, 2011
[Satellite TODAY Insider 01-11-11] Morgan Stanley analysts expect the satellite industry s strong 2010 overall performance to continue in 2011, as satellite stocks rose by an average of 20 percent in 2010 with limited negative impact outside…