Electroteks to broadcast via Europe*Star

LONDON -– Europe*Star will provide Ku-band satellite capacity for Electroteks, an international telecom carrier and broadcasting company, to carry Sinhalese TV directly from Sri Lanka to Europe.

"One of our main target markets is the Indian subcontinent," said Alain Roger, president and chief executive officer of Europe*Star. "We can serve broadcast applications for regional and ethnic content to communities anywhere within our five coverage regions: Europe, Southern Africa, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent and South East Asia. In addition, through our membership with the Loral Global Alliance, Europe*Star can help customers such as Electroteks reach even further to the Americas and the rest of Asia."

Electroteks is expanding its services beyond Europe, including the Middle East, the United States and Australia.

"Europe*Star provides us with the opportunity of realisingour goals." said B.A.C. Abeywardena, chairman and managing director of Electroteks Network Services (Pte) Limited. "It is encouraging to know that Europe*Star has clear visions of the future needs of broadcast operators, its services will greatly enhance our customer base. With the Europe*Star 1 satellite, our customers in Europe can now receive Sinhalese TV programs directly in their homes through small antennas."

Europe*Star will provide Ku-band satellite capacity for Electroteks to distribute two television channels directly from Sri Lanka to Sinhalese speaking communities in Europe. Electroteks is presently broadcasting in C-band to customers in Germany, UK, Australia, Middle East and the United States, and is now developing its distribution network through the use of Ku-band satellite capacity.

"The Europe*Star 1 satellite provides connectivity from the Indian subcontinent to the four other coverage regions, enabling greater access to non-resident Indian markets," said Ravi Sharma, regional director for South Asia. "These new growth markets will need the power and connectivity that only Europe*Star 1 can provide."

Electroteks has agreements with all major carriers landing in Sri Lanka, and has an international telecom operator license in the United Kingdom. To further develop the DTH market, specifically targeted for Sri Lankan communities, Electroteks also plans to add more channels in its bouquet for European, Middle Eastern and the US markets. Europe*Star 1 goes into service in January 2001.