Thaicom Public Company Limited (Stock Exchange of Thailand: THCOM)—a leading Asian satellite operator and provider of integrated satellite communications solutions—announced the signature of an agreement with Mediavision—a European based content delivery specialist providing end-to-end solutions to the broadcast and media industry—for the expansion of its Multi-Channel Per Carrier (MCPC) broadcast platform in Africa.
The MCPC broadcast platform is a cost-effective distribution solution, providing broadcasters in Europe direct access to Thaicom’s content distribution platform at 78.5° east, located on the Thaicom-6 satellite. European and international programmers will also gain access to Mediavision’s integrated solutions for linear and non-linear content distribution including Internet Protocol TV (IPTV).
“Thaicom and Mediavision are working together to deliver innovative broadcast solutions that enable programmers to cost-effectively expand their distribution network into Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Patompob (Nile) Suwansiri, chief commercial officer with Thaicom. “Thaicom launched its MCPC broadcast platform for Africa in 2016. Now we will be able to provide European and international programmers with immediate access to the African market and TV households. Our African C-band MCPC platform via Thaicom-6 is ideal for broadcasters to enter the African market.”
“Our partnership with Thaicom provides European broadcasters with an integrated, end-to-end solution for content distribution via the Thaicom-6 satellite,” said Petrit Bhatijari, chief executive officer, Mediavison. “The Thaicom MCPC platform on Thaicom-6 will enable European programmers who target Africa to develop their content distribution across Sub-Saharan Africa.”
Telespazio, a joint venture between Leonardo and Thales, will provide uplink services for the platform from its teleport facility in Fucino, Italy. Fucino, with its 170 antennas and 370,000 square metres, is recognised as the first and most important teleport in the world for civilian use. Broadcasters will be able to contribute standard (SD) and high definition (HD) content from Europe to Africa via Telespazio’s Fucino facility and the Thaicom-6 satellite.