Intelsat 15’s Ku-band footprint over Russia. Photo: Intelsat

[Via Satellite 10-09-2015] Orion Express, one of the top satellite communications providers in Russia, has transferred all the Standard Definition (SD) channels for Russian broadcaster Viasat to its media platform on Intelsat 15. The channels, formerly on Asia Broadcast Satellite’s ABS 2 satellite, were broadcast on both ABS 2 and Intelsat 15 in parallel until the end of September, with the transfer completed by October 1.

Orion Express also introduced of NDS Videoguard conditional access so that cable operators receiving signals from the company’s platform can continue using their present equipment. Viasat TV channels are presented in basic packages to the majority of pay-TV cable operators in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

“Frequency and power planning of Intelsat 15 is the best for the needs of TV-broadcasting thanks to the one-signal utilizing of 36 MHz band transponders. The communication device has а better onboard systems backup. Moving to the Orion Express platform will allow Viasat to expand a coverage zone and to provide a seamless and high-quality retransmitting of signals,” said Konstantin Saltykov, technical director of Orion Express.