Official launch ceremony of RPO RMTR TV platform with Vice Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Elvira Sarieva (left) and Eutelsat’s David Geiling. Photo: Eutelsat

[Via Satellite 01-27-2015] With analogue broadcasts switching off in June this year, the Kyrgyz Republic’s public broadcaster RPO RMTR has signed onto the Eutelsat 70B satellite. The multi-year agreement ramps up the broadcaster’s transition to a completely digital broadcasting environment.

Through Eutelsat 70B’s high-power service area, RPO RMTR transmits a Free-to-Air (FTA) platform of national channels to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) towers as well as Direct-to-Home (DTH) households beyond terrestrial reception. The Kyrgyz Republic is very mountainous, giving satellite an edge over terrestrial solutions. The Eutelsat 70B satellite’s coverage area encompasses the entire country.

RPO RMTR’s platform began in November 2014 and has four TV and three radio channels. Commercial service began this month. The public broadcaster plans to add 12 television and five more radio channels this year, with further services planned for the future.