EUTELSAT 7B chosen by Liquid Telecom for Africa DTH

EUTELSAT 7B satellite chosen by Liquid Telecom for major broadcast deal and for new enterprise customers across Africa

PARIS — Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL) today announced a multi-year agreement with Liquid Telecom, a leading independent data, voice and IP provider in Africa for multiple transponders on the EUTELSAT 7B satellite.

Liquid Telecom’s award-winning satellite business is growing rapidly, providing both enterprise solutions and broadcasting services for pay TV. Its satellite network complements Liquid Telecom’s pan-African terrestrial network and enables the company to provide seamless services across Africa.

Liquid Telecom will use the EUTELSAT 7B satellite in two ways: to service its new broadcast requirement for DTH services across the African continent; and to connect a growing number of enterprise customers located in areas where fibre is not available.

Servicing a new pay-TV venture

Liquid Telecom is the broadcast service provider for Africa’s largest new pay TV provider, KweséTV, which has been granted the exclusive rights for major sporting events including the English Premier League Free to Air and the NBA League.

Connectivity for enterprises

Liquid Telecom’s satellite service offers speeds of up to 50 Mbps and is top-rated for latency, cost and customer service. 97% of Liquid Telecom’s satellite traffic is within Africa, with traffic outside the continent routed via its hub in London. Customers include Africa’s largest mobile network operators, ISPs, corporations and financial institutions, SMEs, government and public sector bodies as well as organisations wanting to connect remote rural communities.

Scott Mumford, Group Managing Executive of Satellite and VSAT at Liquid Telecom, said: “Broadcast still plays a massive part in the satellite business and we are extremely pleased to have secured this important contract, which will allow the launch of a new large scale broadcast offering.”

Michel Azibert, Eutelsat Commercial and Development Director, added: “We are delighted to welcome Liquid Telecom on board EUTELSAT 7B, to increase the role of satellite in the digitisation of Africa’s TV landscape and to extend broadband connectivity. This new contract with Liquid Telecom underscores Eutelsat’s leading role as a premium provider of digital infrastructure across Africa.”