Intelsat assists UK digital switch over

Televisionpoint.com Correspondent
Intelsat has announced a multi-year, multi-million-dollar contract with Arqiva for satellite capacity to carry digital programming for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) following its digital switch over. Intelsat is providing space segment capacity on its IS-907 satellite at 332.5º E which Arqiva will use as part of its distribution solution to around 90 main terrestrial transmitter sites in the United Kingdom.

"We are happy to entrust Intelsat with this important task which provides us with cost-effective coverage of the UK as part of the distribution system for the BBC's digital channels, The capacity on IS-907 provides us with an excellent technical solution, based on its high-power UK coverage. Intelsat was also flexible in its approach, helping us meet the commercial and technical needs of the BBC." said Steve Holebrook, Managing Director, Arqiva Terrestrial Media Solutions.

"Intelsat has played a key role for many years in the distribution of terrestrial television signals with Arqiva, The addition of the BBC's digital switchover program reinforces the high-performance, high-reliability solution we are able to provide to our video customers." said Jean-Philippe Gillet, Intelsat's Regional Vice President, Europe & Middle East.

For the record, Intelsat is the largest provider of fixed satellite services (FSS) worldwide and is the leading provider of these services to each of the media, network services and government customer sectors, enabling people and businesses everywhere constant access to information and entertainment.