Launching new DTH services
Industry
Broadcasting
Location
Europe
Telekom Srbija first began working with SES in 2011, and SES was therefore a natural choice when it was looking to launch its new Direct to Home (DTH) service, Iris, in 2018.
The state-owned telecommunications company is the largest internet provider and the second largest cable operator in Serbia, and was keen to invest in DTH technology to further cement its growing position in the video market. Satellite is the ideal solution for the project as it provides reach to all parts of the country, including remote areas, without requiring serious capital investment in infrastructure. This allows Telekom Srbija to provide almost all Serbian public and private television channels to the entire population, as well as TV Svet to diaspora communities outside of the country as a free-to-air channel.
Initially broadcast to Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina from SES’s key orbital location at 23.5 degrees East (which serves close to 2.9 million DTH households in Europe), M:Sat TV has been a noted success for the company, gaining approximately 150,000 subscribers since launch.
More than 150 channels are available via the M:Sat TV service, with at least 30 (and growing) in HD. For end users the service is enabled using a cardless set-top box, with an easily accessible installation program of 60cm dishes available for those without existing reception equipment.
Telekom Srbija is expanding the service as well, working with SES to add capacity, and activate new markets, such as a recent launch of the M:Sat TV service into North Macedonia.
SES also contributed to an upgrade of Telekom Srbija’s Ivanjica uplink station and has financed and provided substantial expertise in marketing and logistics support. This included both training and equipping sales agents to help expand the service, as well as developing and launching initiatives specifically aimed at increasing subscriber numbers, such as specially developed competitions.
“SES has worked with us strategically behind the scenes, increasing our reach, delivering more channels and helping us gain new subscribers by conducting invaluable training sessions with our sales staff to help upgrade their skills and knowledge, and further assist us in our goal to nurture trust-based relationships with our customers.”
Andrej Djordjijevic, Head of Department for Private Customers Sales, Telekom Serbia
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