ABS Signs Russia DTH Capacity Deal

Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) signed a long-term, multi-transponder deal with Russian DTH provider GT Satellite Systems (GTSS) for expansion capacity on the ABS-2 satellite, which is scheduled to be launched in 2012.

GTSS will use the capacity to expand its TV distribution services of its CATV channel and Raduga TV DTH platform.
 

Avanti Reaches Pre-Launch Contract Goal for hylas

Avanti Communications signed three contracts for Hylas satellite broadband services that fulfilled Avanti’s goal of signing at least 50 agreements before the satellite’s 2010 launch.

Avanti will provide broadband services to Insis System Engineering, which provides systems integration services in automation, environmental monitoring and infrastructure control in Italy. Italian consumer broadband company Broadsat SRL and Macedonian utility management company EnergoData both signed capacity, telemetry and control services deals, committing to the minimum order volumes.
 

Eutelsat Lands Broadband Connectivity Deal in Morocco

Eutelsat and VSAT partner Nortis Cimecom have been awarded a contract by the Moroccan Ministry for Education and the Moroccan National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to deliver a satellite-based broadband service to schools beyond range of terrestrial networks.

The government deployment program forms part of a national program, dubbed Génie, driven by the Moroccan Ministry of Education to extend ICT infrastructure to schools for teacher training programs and Internet access to educational content for pupils of all ages.

Nortis Cimecom will deploy Eutelsat’s D-Star satellite-based solution to equip 25 percent of schools in the first phase of the national program. The second phase is being assessed by the national telecommunications regulatory authority. The ultimate objective is to deliver broadband to a total of 21,000 schools.
 

Intelsat Wins IP Platform Launch Contract from CBM

Intelsat signed a multi-year agreement with CBM Communications, a global provider of end-to-end communication solutions for mobile assets in commercial, maritime, military and government markets, to provide CBM with the Ku- and C-band transmission facilities needed to launch its Global Broadband IP platform.

CBM and business affiliate Marine Technologies will launch the service, built on iDirect’s Intelligent Platform, using capacity on eight Intelsat satellites and the operator’s GlobalConnex network broadband managed service.
 

Planetsky Gains Broadband Contract in Sub-Saharan Africa

Planetsky has signed a contract with Real Image, an Internet service provider in Swaziland, to make its next-generation broadband services available to Real Image’s Sub-Saharan African customers.

Real Image says the strategic alliance will allow it to offer the first high-speed Internet services to the country.
 

SES signs Capacity Deals in Africa, Poland

SES World Skies signed a multi-year capacity deal with Netcom for Ku-band transponders over Africa. The expanded capacity will enable Netcom to meet rising demand for its broad range of telecom and broadcast television services among businesses, universities and consumers throughout Nigeria and beyond.

Separately, Polish broadcaster Telewizja Polska (TVP) signed a deal with SES Astra to launch its free-to-air TV platform on Astra 1KR. TVP will use two transponders at Astra’s 19.2 degrees East slot and a spot beam on Astra 1KR.