Eutelsat revises targets on strong third quarter

Satellite operator Eutelsat saw a 13.4% increase in revenues in the third quarter to €268.3m, leading the Paris-based company to up its 2009-10 revenue target to €1.035bn from €1.02bn.

While third-quarter video revenues grew by 10% to €172.3m, video was outpaced by data and value-added services (driven by growing corporate business), and multi-usage revenues (driven by new government contracts), which grew by 22.8% and 27.5% respectively.

Video revenue growth was driven by emerging markets, with North Africa and the Middle East, served by 7° West, and Russia and sub-Saharan Africa, served by 36° East, delivering a number of new contracts. Eutelsat carried 3,539 channels at the end of the quarter, up 12.3% year-on-year.