Photo: iStock/Eutelsat

[Via Satellite 11-17-2015] Eutelsat has sealed a three-year contract with the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) for Ku-band capacity on the Eutelsat 3B satellite. The capacity will be used to deliver 12 free-to-view channels to a nationwide network of 48 Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) transmitters.

The agreement between BAZ and Eutelsat will accelerate digital transition of Zimbabwe’s national broadcasting network, which started in 2011, and reflects the general move across Africa to a fully digital environment.

The new service is currently being tested and is due to launch during the first quarter of 2016. BAZ is managing the project with partners Transmedia, the country’s national signal carrier, ZBC, the state broadcaster, and Huawei for sourcing of digital equipment, including Set-Top-Boxes (STBs) for user homes. Huawei will also uplink the digital multiplex from BAZ’s teleport facilities in Harare to the Eutelsat 3B satellite.

“Access to Eutelsat 3B will transform our country into a nationwide provider of digital broadcast services. With this Eutelsat partnership and our project partners, the stage is set for Zimbabwe to accelerate the transition from analogue to digital TV in order to deliver improved service to viewers nationwide,” said Obert Muganyura, CEO of the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe.