SES DELIVERS DIRECT-TO-HOME TV TO WEST AFRICA
Satellite operator SES has announced that from 1 October 2014 it will be delivering direct-to-home (DTH) broadcast television for West African broadcasters, led by Africable and Media Plus, across French-speaking countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Roll-out begins across Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Niger and will offer a bouquet of 80 channels, free-to-air (FTA) and encrypted, allowing member countries to meet the global digital migration deadline of June 2015. Audiences will be able to connect to the existing national Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) networks and to receive content via satellite using a Dual Tuner receiver (MPEG4 and DVBS2/T2) included in the offer.
The multi-year contract for two transponders will allow the new platform to deliver DTH TV from its Bamako Teleport to member countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (also known by its French acronym UEMOA). SES will provide the satellite capacity on its SES-4 satellite located at 22 degrees West, the company’s prime orbital slot for Francophone sub-Saharan Africa, providing full audience reach to both urban and non-urban areas.
“As a global satellite operator, SES is well positioned to facilitate digital migration, particularly in Africa where geographic challenges loom large for broadcasters,” said Ibrahima Guimba-Saidou, Senior Vice President, Africa for SES. “With over 50 satellites globally, SES has nine satellites which cover Africa. As such, we are well positioned to increase the choice of broadcast channels for local communities.”
Ismaila Sidibe, CEO of Africable, said, “Right to TV is our slogan. With over 20 years of experience as a leading wireless cable (MMDS) operator and content provider across Africa, we understand the importance of supporting digital migration on the continent to achieve 100% audience reach. It is our goal to deliver quality television to the wider population at an affordable cost, and we believe DTH technology can help us achieve this.”
