Eutelsat posts strong revenue growth

Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat posted first-quarter revenues of €253m, up 11.6% year-on-year. The increase was driven by increases in all business segments. Video capacity sales grew by 8.5% to €180.8m, while data and value-added services grew by 16% to €47.7m and multi-usage revenues grew by 46.2% to €15.6m.

Video represented 71.9% of revenues, helped by new long-term contracts with Sky Italia and Cyfowy Polsat at 13° East and deals with Hello HD in Hungary, Platforma HD in Russia (9° East), and SBB in Serbia and GlobeCast for TVR in Romania (both at 16° East). In total the Eutelsat fleet broadcast 3,329 channels at the end of September, up 4.7%. HD channels rose by 60% to over 100.

Value-added services benefited from strong growth for direct internet access and mobile services, while Multi-usage services was boosted by the deployment of W1 as Eurobird 4A and new contracts for government services in central Asia and the Middle East.

Eutelsat is currently preparting fo the launch of its new W7 satellite to serve Russia, Ukraine, Africa and central Asia, and four further satellites are scheduled for launch by the end of 2011.