SES said Castor Networks would utilize the new capacity to enable delivery of voice and data services across corporate networks of oil and gas and mining industries, as well as ISPs and governments in countries such as Angola, Mozambique and South Africa. NSS-7, which is also marketed as ideal gateway for both video and broadband services into Latin America, provides satellite for transatlantic video traffic and video distribution across Africa.

   Castor Networks Managing Director Edwin Cras said that NSS-7’s orbital location at 340 degrees East, as well as its 7’s newly configured South Africa Ku-band beam, are well positioned to support VSAT hubs that are expanding into remote areas in Southern Africa.

   “NSS-7 is an ideal fit, as it is a high-powered satellite that offers comprehensive coverage over Southern Africa with cross connectivity into Europe and complements Castor Networks’ iDirect Ku-band coverage over Africa,” Cras said in a statement. “SES, with its professional account management and technical sales support team, has been taking the lead in searching for the right technical solution, allowing us to grow our business by offering competitive rates on first NSS-12, and now NSS-7.”

   SES Senior Vice President of European Commercial Services Norbert Hölzle explained how geographic expansion plans from Europe to Africa are becoming more frequent, providing valuable business for the operator. “Castor Networks is an innovative satellite solution provider that has developed significant bandwidth efficiency gains,” Hölzle said in a statement. “We are delighted to have Castor Networks aboard NSS-7 and make use of the satellite’s new connectivity to extend its networks. This latest contract broadens our partnership and reflects the escalating demand for connectivity throughout Africa.”

   Separately, SES announced today that Gerry Oberst would join the operator as its new senior vice president of global regulatory and governmental strategy – a newly created position that becomes effective Oct. 1.

   Oberst will have responsibility for overseeing the regulatory and advocacy work of SES, reporting to SES Executive Vice President and General Counsel John Purvis. He will initially be based in Luxembourg and then in Washington, D.C.

   A former columnist for Via Satellite magazine, Oberst most recently served as a partner in the law firm Hogan Lovells. He started his career in Washington, D.C. and moved to Brussels in 1991 to help open a new European office for the firm, specializing in the field of international regulation of communications services. During his career he has worked with and advised a host of major telecommunications clients in their dealings with the International Telecommunications Union, the European Commission and EU member states, as well as some emerging market administrations. Oberst also is a member of the International Institute of Space Law.

   “We are delighted to have Gerry join the SES legal and regulatory team to oversee our regulatory and advocacy work,” SES President and CEO Romain Bausch said in a statement. “This is a critical area for SES in the increasingly regulated world in which we operate, where demand is increasing for spectrum resources. Gerry is a world leading satellite regulatory lawyer who will bring valuable expertise and skills to the team.”