Orion Express has said it plans to transform the 85 degrees East slot into a Russian equivalent of Europe’s most popular 13 degrees East position.
The company already uses Intelsat-15 and Horizons 2, both located at 85 degrees East, to broadcast its DTH services Kontinent TV and Telekarta.
According to Maxim Shlygin, executive director of Orion Express, Russian platforms have traditionally used the 36, 56, as well as 80 and 90 degrees East orbital slots, with Orion Express itself having employed 80 degrees East up until 2008, before being forced to 85 degrees East.
He added that 85 degrees East has the advantage of covering the entire area of Russia and the CIS, without any gaps. On the other hand, Hotbird only covers European Russia.
Shlygin also said that Orion Express plans to invite a number of channesl from Asia, Central Asia and other areas onto the 85 degrees East slot.
This raises the question of whether Intelsat-15 and Horizons 2 will be able to compete with Asian satellites such as Asiasat.
Orion Express is currently the second largest DTH platform in Russia after Tricolor TV, claiming over 1 million subscribers.
