A special committee of telecommunications company Bezeq has backed the continued use of satellite – and with it the Amos system – rather than alternative distribution methods.
It could have moved to IPTV, though any switch would have required transitional arrangements.
Bezeq confirmed the extension to the contract signed between subsidiary Yes and Spacecom in November 2013.
Yes will initially use the Amos 3 satellite, before moving to Amos 7 and eventually Amos 8. It is being reported locally that some Yes channels will spend time on the craft Spacecom is leasing from AsiaSat to cover the loss of Amos 6.
The total cost of the contract is US$ 263 million, an average annual cost of US$21.9 million.
Consultancy company Comsys assessed the contract and found it to be “fair and reasonable”.
It is possible that discounting mechanisms may reduce the total cost.
