[Satellite News 06-28-10] Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSB) CEO Cato Halsaa told Satellite News that better than expected take-up capacity on Thor 6 meant the operator was accelerating its plans for a new satellite.
    “We have sold around ten transponders (on Thor 6). As of today, we have sold more capacity on Thor 6, than was in our original forecast. The better than expected take-up of capacity on Thor 6 has accelerated plans for expansion capacity. We are firming up our plans for a new satellite. We will still have some capacity available for growth in the Nordic region. The transponder utilization rate for our fleet is around 80 percent,” said Halsaa.
   Halsaa admitted plans for expansion capacity and this new satellite could happen before the end of September. “We are planning another satellite. We are now at the detailed planning stage for the new satellite. The demand for capacity we see is strong. We also want to have more capacity available for the data communications market. So, with that in mind, the satellite might be bigger than Thor 5 and Thor 6. I would expect us to make an announcement in the third quarter (concerning a new satellite). From what I can gather, Telenor will continue to support strong business proposals in satellite.”
As well announcing a new satellite, Halsaa said the operator could also make an announcement in the same quarter regarding Thor 3. “What we are also doing is evaluating the options for Thor 3. The options include continuing to use the satellite for ourselves or lease capacity to others. I think the decision on that is also likely to be made in the third quarter this year.”
   Telenor’s signature deal with UPC Direct, a former SES Astra customer, gave the operator a boost in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) last year. Once the money starts to flow in from that deal, Halsaa said that UPC Direct would become one of the operator’s top two biggest DTH customers. Despite the economic crisis, and the fact that there are a number of platforms in CEE, Halsaa has been surprised by the resilience in these markets. “I don’t know whether there will be consolidation (among DTH platforms). These DTH operators have been able to find business models that work. Yes, it has been surprising that these markets have held up. But, we believe there are still plenty of growth opportunities in central and Eastern Europe. There is good growth for new channels here. We will see new channels, and maybe even new platforms in the region.”
   Halsaa does not believe there will be explosive growth in terms of 3-D TV, either in Nordic region or in CEE. “We try to pragmatic as regards 3-D. It is important to get it right. I don’t think it will be as big as HD. HD did not have explosive growth. It was gradual growth, although there has been acceleration recently. We think HD will continue grow, and 3-D TV will come on the top of that. But, the demands for 3-D TV will not happen overnight.”
   The operator is hoping to diversify a little more and generate stronger revenues from the maritime market. However, while the operator is hopeful to make more of an impact here, it is less bullish about satellite broadband and mobile applications based on satellite. “Firstly, We don’t think broadband via satellite will work in this region. Secondly, I think that TV will get to mobile screens at some point. But, no one has yet really come up with good breakthroughs in the business models. At Telenor, we have not believed in S-band satellites. We thought it was too early for mobile TV. We have not believed in S-band satellite applications.”