Russian Broadcaster National Satellite Company Boosts Capacity On Eutelsat's EUROBIRD™ 9 Satellite For New Digital Package

Following on from the successful launch in 2008 of Platforma HD on the EUROBIRD™ 9 satellite of Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL), the Russian pay-TV operator National Satellite Company is complementing and significantly expanding its offer with a new package called Platforma DV of 20 Standard Digital channels. Platforma DV will launch on February 1 via a second transponder leased by National Satellite Company on Eutelsat's EUROBIRD™ 9 satellite, which provides reach to satellite homes across the European territory of Russia.

The 20 Standard Digital channels will include flagship Russian channels covering sport, music, cinema, news and lifestyle: Rossija, Sport, Vesti, Kultura, Bibigon, Pervyj, Pjatyj, NTV, TNT, STS, Ren TV, Muz TV, Zoo TV, Kinopokaz, Teleputesestvija, Tonus TV, Avto Plus, Kuchnja TV, Komedija TV and 365 Days. The new platform will be available to Direct-to-Home subscribers using 60-90cm antennas in western parts of Russia. Platforma DV will cost subscribers R900 (€20) a year and offer a supplement to Platforma HD, which broadcasts five HD channels (Kinopokaz HD, Eurosport, National Geographic Channel, HD Life and MTVN HD) for an annual subscription of R3,600 (€80). Subscribers choosing to take both SD and HD packages will pay R4,200 (€93) a year.

Platforma HD and DV use DRE encryption for the system. Two types of decoder are available (the HUMAX HDCI-2000 and General Satellite's HD-9000) enabling reception of channels in DVB-S2, Standard Definition and in High-Definition.

Commenting on the launch of Platforma DV, Konstantin Yashin, Chairman of Platforma HD declared: "With the launch of our new package, subscribers already attracted by High-Definition television can add a valuable set of traditional Standard Digital channels offering excellent quality."

Olivier Milliès-Lacroix, Eutelsat's Commercial Director added: "The launch of Platform DV as a complement to Platforma HD shows the strong appetite of Russian satellite homes for a wide variety of content and further anchors EUROBIRD™ 9 as a neighbourhood of choice in this region. We are very pleased to accompany the expansion of new video platforms in Russia's dynamic new media landscape."

Solaris Mobile Is Confirmed By EC As ‘Admissible Candidate’ For The Provision Of Mobile Satellite Services

Solaris Mobile Is Confirmed By The European Commission As An ‘Admissible Candidate’ For The Provision Of Mobile Satellite Services And Welcomes The Publication Of New Guidelines For Mobile TV

Solaris Mobile has on, December 19th 2008, been confirmed by the European Commission as an ‘admissible candidate’ for the two-stage application process for the provision of mobile satellite services across Europe.

Solaris Mobile was one of four companies to submit an application to the European Commission in October for the rollout of S-Band Spectrum mobile satellite services, under a single European selection procedure instead of under 27 different national systems. Its confirmation as an admissible candidate underlines the strength of the company’s application.

With a state of the art satellite due to be launched next Spring, Solaris Mobile is the only candidate operator that will meet European Commission expectations that cross border Mobile TV services are likely to start in 2009. The company will be in the unique position of being able to offer mobile satellite services that empower existing and next generation mobile hybrid networks and enable the provision of innovative services to consumers across Europe.

Solaris Mobile is actively establishing together with key industrial partners and media players a harmonised ecosystem to optimize the delivery of mobile TV services, and broadband. The company has also announced that it welcomes the recently published European Commission Guidelines for the provision of mobile TV services in EU countries.

“We look forward to the publication of similar guidelines for mobile satellite services,” says Solaris Mobile Chief Executive Officer Steve Maine. “We would especially support the commitment of the European Commission to award procedure guidelines that are public, transparent and defined in advance, as well as the aspiration that full interoperability and EU-wide mobile TV roaming will be important considerations for mobile TV service providers. The European Commission has also recognised that speed in service delivery will be key for global competitiveness, and therefore we are also in favour of the recommendation that frequencies made available for Mobile TV should be withdrawn if the service has not started within a reasonable time. With a focus on clear guidelines and light regulation, the European Commission is clearly supportive of the rapid roll out of mobile TV across Europe, and this is good news for companies such as Solaris Mobile. ”

FACT FILE
Solaris Mobile, a Eutelsat and SES Astra joint venture, was established earlier this year to develop next generation mobile TV services via satellite. Its corporate headquarters in Dublin officially opened in June 2008. The company plans to provide TV, video and radio plus two-way communication to a variety of handheld and vehicle-mounted mobile devices. Solaris Mobile’s range of services, scheduled for launch in early 2009, is aimed primarily at Broadcasters, Telco operators, the Automotive industry, and Data & Communication providers.

The company intends to operate in a 2.00 GHz frequency band, the S-band, reserved for the exclusive use of satellite and terrestrial mobile services. The S-band sits alongside UMTS frequencies that are already used across Europe for 3G terrestrial services.

Please visit http://www.solarismobile.com/

Daniela Genta
Since the submission of its application, Solaris Mobile has been strengthening its management team, most notably with the appointment of Daniela Genta as Director of Regulatory Affairs. Daniela has over ten years experience in the satellite, telecommunications and space industry.