Multichoice Expands their DTT with Intelsat



Luxembourg, 9 April 2014 – Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), the world’s leading provider of satellite services, today announced that African direct-to-home operator, MultiChoice, is leveraging Intelsat capacity to expand the reach of its digital terrestrial television (DTT) offering in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Under the agreement, MultiChoice, a pioneer in the Sub-Saharan African market, will expand its C-band capacity on Intelsat 904 at 60º East to distribute content to its terrestrial towers for DTT services. Intelsat 904 enables MultiChoice to further expand its DTT GOtv product offering to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa where it is already present, including Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, Namibia and Malawi, and to target new countries.

“Intelsat is our primary partner for media satellite solutions in Africa, serving as our platform of choice
for our Southern African direct-to-home (DTH) services and our DTT offerings. With Intelsat, we are able to broaden our reach in Sub-Saharan Africa and deliver more affordable and differentiated programming to the region,” said Nico Meyer, CEO MultiChoice Africa. “DTT is an important growth area for MultiChoice, and the quality, reliability and reach of Intelsat’s satellite network enable us to continue to expand our customer base and grow our GOtv product offering across the continent.”
Intelsat currently provides proven DTT solutions in Africa, supported by advanced technologies that facilitate efficient use of bandwidth and improved reception quality, enabling African audiences to enjoy the benefits of digital television. Intelsat also hosts premium video distribution neighborhoods serving all of the populated continents, offering excellent viewer penetration for popular content within and outside the continent.

“Intelsat has a strong track record of supporting DTT and DTH deployments throughout Africa,” said Grant Marais, Intelsat’s Regional Vice President, Africa Sales. “Intelsat 904 C-band provides MultiChoice with unparalleled reception quality, reliability and reach, enabling them to expand their DTT service offerings in Sub-Saharan Africa. As DTT signals allow for more efficient use of spectrum, MultiChoice will be able to provide existing and new customers with more differentiated content at very competitive prices.”


About Intelsat
Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) is the world’s leading provider of satellite services, delivering high performance connectivity solutions for media, fixed and mobile broadband infrastructure, enterprise and government and military applications. Intelsat’s satellite, teleport and fiber infrastructure is unmatched in the industry, setting the standard for transmissions of video and broadband services. From the globalization of content and the proliferation of HD, to the expansion of cellular networks and mobile broadband access, Intelsat creates value for its customers through creative space-based solutions. Envision…Connect…Transform…with Intelsat, celebrating 50 years of space leadership in 2014. For more information, visit www.intelsat.com.

About MultiChoice
MultiChoice Africa Limited (“MultiChoice Africa”) is Africa’s pioneer pay TV provider, having launched the first digital satellite service in the 1980s. The company provides multi-channel digital pay television services containing channels from Africa, America, China, India, Asia and Europe and has over twenty years’ experience in offering cutting-edge digital technology and a selection of bouquets containing premium television channels for subscribers in 50 African countries and the adjacent Indian Ocean islands.

MultiChoice Africa is a multi-platform pay television operator which provides great entertainment anywhere at any time on a number of different technology platforms and devices including DStv via direct to home satellite, GOtv via digital terrestrial transmission (DTT) to fixed or mobile devices. As a high quality pay television service in Africa the company has always ensured that it is at the cutting edge of technology, content and service, which has resulted in consistent improvements in our subscribers’ viewing and enjoyment while they are kept at the cutting edge of new technology.

Original Article