[Satellite TODAY 05-27-10] SES World Skies has signed a deal with An Vien Group (AVG) to provide transponder capacity on the NSS-6 satellite for a new DTH service in Vietnam, the operator announced May 27.
     AVG will utilize two and a half transponders on NSS-6 to launch the service in the fourth quarter of 2010, with initial plans to offer up to 80 channels of television programming in Vietnam. AVG has an option for one more transponder, which it expects to exercise in mid-2011.
    “We selected SES World Skies high-powered NSS-6 satellite because of its optimal DTH coverage of our target market. SES is also a large satellite operator with a fleet of 43 satellites and several more under construction; therefore we felt that a relationship with such a large and stable partner will ensure that our DTH business will be protected and secure as we grow this business in Vietnam,” Pham Nhat Vu, CEO of An Vien Group said in a statement. 
    Financial details of the contract were not disclosed.
    Vietnam has shown potential to be a lucrative market for DTH services. At the end of 2009, AsiaSat signed a capacity deal with Vietnam Multimedia Corp. (VTC) for multiple Ku-band transponders on AsiaSat 5. VTC’s DTH service in Vietnam is also launching this year.