Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

South African TV channels have started their trial broadcasting via the first Azerbaijani telecommunications satellite Azerspace-1, a source in the telecommunications market told Trend on March 4.

"Fox Entertainment" and "FX Africa" are the two South African TV channels using the Azerbaijani satellite.

Currently Azerspace is broadcasting over 80 TV and radio channels. The TV content is available when satellite antennas configured with 11,169 MHz frequency, 20,400 speed, Horizontal and FEC - 5/6 polarization.

Earlier in February, Azerbaijani space agency "Azercosmos" started test broadcasting of eight Georgian TV channels.

Azerspace-1 also started broadcasting the Ukrainian state television, and Turkish VTV Antalya channel in August, while North African telecommunication operators have began using resources of the satellite from May.

Moreover, Afghanistan and Iraq are also interested in using Azerspace-1 in the future.

Azerspace-1, which was launched in February 2013, covers Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and North Africa. Some 80 percent of the satellite's resources are available for commercial purposes.

The satellite was designed to offer digital broadcasting services, internet access, and data transmission. It also creates multiservice VSAT networks and provides governmental communication services.

Azerspace-1's term of exploitation in the orbit will be up to 15 years. Baku is expected to earn $500-600 million by operating the satellite.