Eutelsat has signed a multi-year agreement for satellite capacity with Société burkinabè de télédiffusion (SBT), the public agency deploying DTT channels across Burkina Faso.
According to Eutelsat, the new contract was announced at Discop Abidjan and is a major step in the drive to accelerate analogue switch-off in Burkina Faso.
Capacity leased on Eutelsat 3B is already delivering approximately 20 channels to 35 DTT towers deployed throughout Burkina Faso.
In addition to favouring Eutelsat 3B for nationwide FTA broadcasting, SBT has partnered with public broadcaster RTB to expand availability of public service content to Burkinabe residents and embassies in a broader footprint. Capacity on Eutelsat 16A is extending access to RTB in Africa and Eutelsat 9B in Europe.
Commenting on the development, SBT general manager Kadidia Savadogo said: “We are leveraging the unique footprint of the Eutelsat 3B satellite over our country to launch a broadcasting platform that will deliver as many TV channels as possible to Burkinabe households with enhanced audio and image quality. Our objective is to ensure DTT delivery to 98% of our territory by the end of 2017.”
Michel Azibert, Eutelsat’s deputy CEO and chief commercial & development officer, added: “With this agreement, Eutelsat is leveraging capacity on three of our satellites to contribute to Burkina Faso’s transition to a fully digital broadcasting environment. We are proud to support SBT in its drive to accelerating access to DTT channels for all Burkinabe homes.”
