24 March 2009

Slovak telecommunications and TV operator Towercom has contracted an additional transponder on ASTRA’s orbital position 23.5 degrees East in order to launch new HD services. Towercom operates the Skylink TV platform in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. With the new contract, Towercom increases the number of transponders in use for the Czech and Slovak markets to three.

Towercom is successfully developing its Skylink platform via ASTRA’s 23.5 degrees East orbital position which is becoming a new prime position for Direct-to-Home (DTH) services in Central and Eastern Europe. Skylink has so far distributed 600,000 smart cards in the Czech and the Slovak Republic.

With the agreement and the launch of new HD channels on its satellite fleet, SES ASTRA will maintain its position as most important HD platform in Europe.

“The capacity increase by Towercom shows how dynamically these countries and markets continue to develop,” says Alexander Oudendijk, Chief Commercial Officer of SES ASTRA. “Our 23.5 degrees East orbital position is becoming increasingly attractive and important for more and more broadcasters in Central and Eastern Europe.”  

„Our objective is to provide high quality and innovative services“, says Roman Fischer, Chairman of the Board of Towercom. “The impressive increase in the number of Skylink customers proves that we are following the right course.”