[Satellite TODAY 04-14-10] SES World Skies signed capacity deal with Wananchi, a new pay-TV platform in East Africa, the company announced April 13.
    Wananchi will utilize three full transponders on SES World Skies’ new NSS-12 satellite to launch cable, broadband and IP phone services, including a DTH lineup and VSAT-delivered, IP-based communications solutions.
    Wananchi’s DTH platform is expected to launch in September and will offer as many as 80 channels over two transponders by year-end. The VSAT networks will enable everything from high-speed Internet access to Voice-Over-IP and videoconferencing
    “Wananchi is delivering a new level of broadband and IP connectivity and DTH content tailored to meet the growing consumer and business demand for information and entertainment across East Africa,” Wananchi CEO Euan Fannell said in a statement.
    Seperately, SES World Skies announced it had signed a new capacity agreement with Retro TV.
    Retro TV will secure two further transponders of capacity on SES World Skies’ AMC-7 satellite after the network signed an initial agreement for two transponders on the AMC-3 satellite in Spring 2009.
Financial details of the contracts were not disclosed.