Horizon Satellite Services is finding it more difficult to secure capacity deals in the Middle East as the satellite telecommunications industry continues to boom in emerging markets, Horizon Managing Director Hisham Ansari told Via Satellite.
    “During the last two to three years, few satellites were launched with coverage on the region. Some new satellites scheduled for launching in 2010-2011 could not make their way due to financing difficulties. This juncture has resulted in decrease in supply against increase in demand fueling price raise and we expect this scene to continue for a couple of years,” said Ansari.
    Horizon specializes in providing direct access to tier-one Internet backbones for ISPs, enterprises and government procurement services operating in the Middle East Africa and Asia. To meet the demand for capacity, Horizon signed a contract Oct. 5 with Eutelsat 5 to lease capacity on the W2A, W6 and Eurobird 4A satellites. Horizon has been depending on Eutelsat capacity since 2003, and “the extra capacity was leased in order to expand the service especially in Libya and Afghanistan. Eutelsat has an edge over other satellite operators due to the broad coverage of their satellites especially their W5, W6 and W2A satellites.”
    Ansari believes that even though fiber is making its way in the region, the demand for satellite demand is on a constant increase. “Fiber and satellite both complement each other. Our main market is the Middle East and Africa. We are providing services to a diversified market and we have been targeting VNO services in the region. In satellite telecommunications, what matters most is the technology that you use to deliver the service. We always make sure that we are at the forefront of technology innovations in order to provide the most reliable and most cost-effective solutions. We are working on some projects, discussing others and we anticipate decent growth next year.”
    Eutelsat CCO Andrew Wallace hailed the deal as beneficial for both companies. “Satellites offer a compelling solution for cost-effective direct access to the Internet backbone, cutting through geographic barriers and local infrastructure. We are delighted to further consolidate our relationship with Horizon Satellite Services whose commitment to quality and innovation is a hallmark for satellite-based IP services.”
    Separately, Eutelsat announced that its W3B satellite has arrived at Arianespace’s French Guiana Space Center, where it will be prepared for its Ariane 5 ECA launch Oct. 28.
    The W3B satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space, will be located at 16 degrees East to provide increased capacity for video platforms in Central Europe and Indian Ocean islands and offer bandwidth and coverage for telecom operators and ISPs in Africa. W3B’s 56 Ka- and Ku-band transponders will be connected to four distinct footprints: a high-power footprint of Central Europe for DTH broadcasting, a wide beam spanning Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and central Asia for professional video links and data networks.
    The satellite will enter service in December, replacing Eutelsat’s Eurobird 16, W2M and Sesat 1 satellites, which will be redeployed to alternative positions.