Nilesat agrees transponder contracts for Eutelsat’s 8 West B satellite

Egyptian satellite operator Nilesat has agreed a long-term lease for multiple transponders on Eutelsat’s forthcoming Eutelsat 8 West B satellite, covering the Middle East and North Africa.

The deal strengthens Eutelsat and Nilesat’s long-term cooperation at the 7/8 degrees West video neighbourhood, which broadcasts more than 1,000 TV channels to over 52 million homes located from Morocco in the west to the Gulf in the east.

The additional transponders booked by Nilesat on Eutelsat 8 West B add to the resources already leased on the Eutelsat 8 West C satellite, with services on 8 West C satellite due to be transferred to 8 West B once the satellite enters service in 2015.

“Eutelsat’s partnership with Nilesat has fostered the creation of an unmatched broadcasting neighbourhood serving channels seeking to optimise their reach and deliver high quality. We are committed to delivering industry-leading service and look forward to pursuing and strengthening even further our strong collaboration with Nilesat,” said Michel Azibert, Eutelsat’s chief commercial and development officer.

Eutelsat and Nilesat have together built broadcast infrastructure at 7/8 degrees West that comprises three Eutelsat and two Nilesat satellites specifically designed for direct-to-home (DTH) satellite reception.