SES ASTRA has announced that, via its Nordic affiliate SES SIRIUS, it has contracted four transponders on its new orbital position at 31.5 degrees East to the Lithuanian satellite services provider SatGate.

SatGate is using the capacity to provide broadband and internet connectivity to households and end customers in Eastern and Central Europe, Russia and its neighbouring countries and the Middle East.

Part of the capacity will also be used to serve Internet Service Providers who do not have the necessary infrastructure themselves. SatGate has already contracted two transponders on the Sirius 4 satellite. The company was established in 2001 and has more than 50,000 active customers across the different countries where it offers its services.

SES ASTRA started to commercialise the new orbital position 31.5 degrees East in April, with its satellite ASTRA 5A offering 26 transponders in a first step. The first customers who announced a capacity agreement for two transponders on ASTRA 5A in mid July are the independent German cable operators.

Alexander Oudendijk, Chief Commercial Officer of SES ASTRA, said: "We are very satisfied that after the successful deployment of ASTRA 5A at 31.5 degrees East, we have already been able to contract six transponders at this new orbital position. The demand from customers for ASTRA 5A shows how dynamic the market in Central and Eastern Europe currently is.

"We expect that this new orbital position serving these markets will further develop rapidly. The broadband services from SatGate will certainly represent a sound base to develop an attractive neighbourhood for additional customers on ASTRA 5A, not only for broadband, but also in combination with Direct-to-Home TV services."

Vitaliy Malashevskiy, Chief Executive Officer of SatGate, said: "We are pleased to take our relationship with SES to a new stage, based on its competencies and the high quality of service we trust. The agreement for the use of four transponders on ASTRA 5A will enable us to successfully expand our offers into the promising markets in Eastern and Central Europe and the Middle East. We are looking forward to further develop our business and build on our strong relationship with SES."