Thaicom to beam European content into Africa
Satellite operator Thaicom Plc has signed an agreement with Europe-based content-delivery specialist Mediavision to expand its broadcast platform in sub-Saharan Africa.
The MCPC platform provides broadcasters in Europe with direct access to Thaicom’s content-distribution platform at 78.5 degrees east longitude on the Thaicom-6 satellite.
European and other programmers will also gain access to Mediavision’s services for linear and non-linear content distribution including Internet Protocol TV (IPTV).
Thaicom chief commercial officer Patompob Suwansiri said on Monday the firm launched its MCPC broadcast platform for Africa in 2016 and would now be able to provide European and other programmers with immediate access to the African market and TV households.
“Our African C-band MCPC platform on Thaicom-6 is ideal for broadcasters to enter the African market,” he said.
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 of operating facilities, is recognised as the world’s most important teleport for civilian use.
Broadcasters will be able to contribute standard (SD) and high definition (HD) content from Europe to Africa via that facility and the Thaicom-6 satellite.
