Telenor Satellite Broadcasting’s Thor 6 satellite is set to enter commercial service before the end of the month. The Oslo-based operator has formally taken on the ownership from manufacturer Thales.
The 36-transponder satellite will provide high power direct-to-home services from one degree West. This includes 16 transponders that will provide coverage to the Nordic region, replacing existing capacity on Thor 3, from where channels will be migrated during January. A further 20 transponders serve the developing market of Central & East Europe.
The CEE client base already includes Romanian Digi TV, the separate Focus Sat operations in Romania and Moldova; and the Ukranian start-up MyTV that has been broadcasting on two Thor 3 transponders before moving to Intelsat operated capacity on Thor 6. From next spring they will be joined by UPC Direct, which is transferring its operations from Astra at 19 degrees East.
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