Shaw
Direct
Acquires
Capacity
on
Third
Satellite
31
March
2010
Shaw
Direct
has
entered
into
agreements
with
Telesat
to
acquire
capacity
on a
new
satellite
expected
to
be
available
in
late
2012.
The
new
satellite
will
increase
Shaw
Direct's
satellite
television
services
by
30
percent
through
16
new
national
transponders.
"This
marks
a
milestone
for
our
satellite
business,"
said
Peter
Bissonnette,
President,
Shaw
Communications
Inc.
The
new
satellite
was
made
possible
pursuant
to a
December
2009
policy
decision
from
Industry
Canada
and
further
strengthens
the
capabilities
of
the
country's
competitive
satellite
distribution
sector.
"Acquiring
this
capacity
will
increase
our
ability
to
deliver
the
best
satellite
television
service
in
Canada
-
and
is
part
of
our
commitment
to
providing
our
customers
with
exceptional
experiences,"
said
Mr.
Bissonnette.
Shaw
Direct
currently
provides
service
to
over
900,000
customers
across
Canada,
including
those
living
in
rural
and
remote
areas,
using
two
satellites.
The
transponders
residing
on
the
third
satellite
will
provide
bandwidth
for
expanded
customer
choice,
including
new
high
definition
and
other
advanced
services
for
Canadians.
It
also
provides
enhanced
service
quality
acting
as
an
important
in-orbit
back-up
capability
for
Shaw
Direct's
customers.
