Eutelsat and the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) have selected Astrium to build the Express-AMU1/Eutelsat 36 C satellite.
Due to be launched in 2015, it will provide follow-on and expansion capacity for Eutelsat 36A, operating at 36 degrees East.
Express-AMU1/Eutelsat 36 C will have up to 70 transponders and provide coverage for broadcast services in the European part of Russia in Ku and Ka bands.
It will also ensure service continuity and growth for broadcast markets developed by Eutelsat in sub-Sahara Africa. Its dual-band design will help support more TV and IP-based interactive services in Russia.
According to a survey by Eutelsat and Ipsos on TV reception in Russia, 24% of its 53 million TV homes are equipped for DTH reception.
Moreover, the number of DTH homes has grown by 25% over the last two years from 8 million to 12.6 million.
Ten per cent of these homes receive signals from more than one satellite, taking the total number of antennas to 13.8 million.
The number of homes equipped to receive signals from 36 degrees East has meanwhile increased from 6.7 million to 10.7 million over the last two years, reflecting the success of the Tricolor TV and NTV+ platforms.
Over the same period, the number of Russian channels broadcasting from 36 degrees East rose from 250 to over 370.
Meanwhile, the number of homes in Russia receiving international and Russian channels broadcast by Eutelsat’s Hot Bird satellites also continues to grow, reaching a new record of 1.7 million, up from 1.3 million two years earlier.