Intelsat’s contract with ESS is a multi-year deal for Ku-band capacity at the 1 degree West orbital slot. ESS will use the capacity to launch a new DVB-S2 platform for standard- and high-definition programming to meet growing demands in the Central and Eastern European video sector.

   ESS recently expanded its program offering by adding channel programming from NBT in Bulgaria and TV Sonce in Macedonia, which currently features Kanal D, TV Paprika, VH1 Romania, Filmbox and Reflektor. ESS Managing Director Cristinel Popa said the capacity combined with its new video multiplex platform would enable the distribution of several more programming additions in the future.

   “The 1 degree West video neighborhood has attracted some of the world’s leading programmers, thanks to its broad reach of DTH and cable operators in Central and Eastern Europe,” Popa said. “We look forward to continuing our strong relationship with Intelsat as we work to meet the programming needs of our customers.”

   Intelsat Regional Vice President for Europe and Middle East Sales Jean Philippe Gillet echoed Popa’s opinion. “This agreement will allow Eastern Space Systems to continue addressing the increasingly strong demand for video programming in Central and Eastern European,” Gillet said in a statement. “This reinforces the leading position of the 1 degree West video neighborhood as the optimum choice for distribution of quality programming across the region.”

   Separately, Intelsat announced that Astrium Services Business Communications, the newly established business division of Astrium Services, expanded its capacity on Intelsat’s Ku-band mobility infrastructure. Astrium Services Business Communications includes business from maritime communications providers Vizada and its affiliate Marlink.

Intelsat said the agreement would enable the customer to further enhance its global broadband service offerings for the transportation, cruise and offshore segments.

   “Maritime service providers and customers of Astrium Services will benefit from the new network enhancements on the Intelsat 22 satellite and will leverage capacity on the Intelsat 22 satellite to enhance coverage for its maritime VSAT services, such as WaveCall and Pharostar, in the Indian Ocean,” Intelsat said in a company statement. “Astrium Services will also utilize the Intelsat 21 satellite, which is designed to provide Ku-band coverage in the southern Atlantic Ocean, expanding the maritime VSAT service capacity in regions requiring more coverage.”

   Astrium Services Business Communications will access the capacity on Intelsat 21 and Intelsat 22 via the IntelsatOne Network Broadband product, which is built on a global network of VSAT service platforms and teleports integrated with an IP/MPLS backbone. The integration with Astrium Services’ proprietary global teleport network aims to establish seamless service, with the additional capacity complementing available throughput on the Intelsat C- and Ku-band infrastructure that is already enabling connectivity for VSAT customers.