SES S.A. (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) has signed a capacity agreement with Eurovision to broadcast the Rio 2016 Olympics to sports fans around the world.
Eurovision will lease several transponders on the NSS-806 satellite between July and August of 2016 to enable broadcasters across the globe to provide extensive coverage of the Olympics in Rio as well as the distribution of other major sporting events. NSS-806, which is located at the prime orbital position of 47.5 degrees West, has excellent coverage over Brazil and was one of the key satellites that were used for the delivery of the 2014 FIFA World Cup to audiences throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.
Additionally, SES S.A. now also has a satellite broadband deal with Facebook.
This agreement is to provide high-speed broadband connectivity services to Sub-Saharan Africa in support of Facebook’s Express Wi-Fi program that is part of their Internet.org initiative to connect the world. Facebook will deliver high speed broadband connectivity using three SES satellites—ASTRA 2G, ASTRA 3B and ASTRA 4A. In addition, SES is providing Facebook with customized SES Enterprise+ broadband services.
SES designed a highly tailored service using its satellite, data center and implementation services with integrated features such as security, protocol enhancement, and hosting. The solution includes Gilat Satellite Networks’ X-Architecture platform that will enable Facebook’s local African partners to deliver Internet services to under-connected and unconnected communities using Facebook’s Express Wi-Fi access product.
According to Ron Levin, the Director of Strategic Accounts at Gilat, this turnkey solution that has been provided to Facebook is based on expanding the SES base with the most advanced X-Architecture for the SkyEdge II-c platform, which will deliver a scalable and optimized, satellite-enabled broadband solution for Africa.
With the new SES Plus data network's Express Wi-Fi, the demands of Facebook will be met in regard to providing broadband connectivity. As Ferdinand Kayser, the Chief Commercial Officer at SES indicated, his company is able to design and deliver customized and differentiated products that enable customers to excel in their markets. With the Facebook agreement, an entirely customized, flexible and scalable solution was designed to satisfy the quickly expanding African broadband connectivity market.
