Tags: Telesat, Eutelsat, Broadcasting, Iran
Publication: MediacasterMagazine.com
Publication Date: 11/09/2012

A 0.5-meter satellite image of a uranium enrichment plant in Qom, Iran, was captured by the GeoEye-1 satellite sensor on September 26, 2009. Image credit: Geo Eye

Telesat has announced it will stop broadcasting programming and content from the Iranian regime via the Telstar 12 satellite, following Eutelsat’s steps. Networks such as the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN), are no longer transmitted from Telesat’s fleet.

With support from U.S. based non-profit United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), the company also plans to cease any business with the country’s government. Reports indicate that the company has severed relationship with a reseller of Telstar 12’s capacity to the government of Iran.

By terminating IRIB’s broadcasts, Telesat interrupted the retransmission of the signal to an Intelsat satellite for broadcast distribution in the U.S. The Canadian global satellite operator has disclosed the situation to the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

UANI has also succeeded in persuading companies such as Huawei and Nokia Siemens Networks to curtail business with Iran.

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