SES Astra signed a capacity deal to provide direct-to-home provider UPC Direct a fifth digital transponder at the orbital position 19.2 degrees East, SES Astra announced April 12. UPC Direct will use this capacity to serve Central and Eastern European satellite homes with its program offers and bouquets.

At the end of 2005, SES Astra reached 1.3 million digital satellite households in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and in the Slovak Republic, an increase of about 300,000 compared to the end of 2004.

“Our new commercial agreement with UPC Direct further strengthens our important and long-standing business relationship,” Alexander Oudendijk, SES Astra’s chief commercial officer, said in a statement. “It also demonstrates the growing attraction of our satellites for program operators and customers across Central and Eastern Europe and underlines the dynamic growth that Astra is experiencing in this region.”