Orion Express secures belated OK to broadcast on Intelsat Horizons-2

Russian pay TV operator Orion Express has secured regulatory approval to begin broadcasting on Intelsat’s Horizons-2 satellite at 85° East after a long delay, according to local reports.

The satellite, originally launched as a joint venture with Japan’s Sky Perfect JSat at 74° East, was moved to its new position by Intelsat specifically to serve Orion Express as anchor customer. However, the Russian State Commission on Radio Frequencies held back from authorising the service to broadcast because of interference issues with Kazakhstan’s Kazsat-2 satellite. The interested parties have now agreed to coordinate the use of frequencies, according to the reports.

Orion Express is currently available via the Intelsat-15 and Express-AM3 satellites.