Algérie Télécom Satellite (ATS), a subsidiary of Algeria's leading telecom operator, has recently signed a new agreement with Eutelsat (News - Alert) Communications and has awarded a five-year capacity contracts to use new ATLANTIC BIRD 7 satellite.

According to the sources, ATS has expanded its relationship with Eutelsat to offer superior coverage to the entire Algerian territory utilizing ATLANTIC BIRD 7, enabling it to further extend mobile telephony penetration and data networks operated by the public administration.

Andrew Wallace, Eutelsat's chief commercial officer, commented: "As a partner of Algérie Télécom Satellite since it was established in 2004, we are delighted to take our collaboration to a new level with these two long-term contracts. They highlight the strong featuresof ATLANTIC BIRD 7and the potential of its high-power and reach to contribute to completing digital infrastructure across Algerian territory."

The two new leases include total 47 MHz of capacity and this joins the five 36 MHz transponders already used by ATS on Eutelsat's ATLANTIC BIRD 3 satellite.

It further secures satellite as a core technology for the largest country in Africa, as Algeria's leading telecom operator continues to build out digital networks to rural areas and to serve demand for interconnectivity from the finance and energy sectors.

With capacity commercialized on 29 satellites that provide coverage across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators.

Eutelsat's satellites broadcast more than 4,000 television channels, of which over 1,000 from the HOT BIRD video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East which serves 120 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Group's satellites also provide a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services and TV contribution services.