BUSINESS ACTIVITY
Throughout 2017, HISPASAT focused on marketing the capacities of the new satellites while optimising already existing ones by way of proposing new business models to clients that offer flexible solutions in keeping with market developments in the telecommunications sector.
Distribution services for RTVE with Cellnex were renewed in Spain attesting to HISPASAT capacity to provide types of professional services that require high availability and reliability.
HISPASAT managed to increase its audiovisual distribution service this year for TV headends by incorporating new channels into Telefónica Audiovisual Services (TSA) multiplexes, including AMC network channels in Spain.
Nationally, HISPASAT continues committed to ultra high definition (4K), having conducted numerous live broadcasts throughout the year. Worthy of particular mention was the first 4K High Dynamic Range (HDR) broadcast of the Changing of the Guard at the Royal Palace in Madrid in collaboration with RTVE. Moreover, HISPASAT continued to partner the Teatro Real in the broadcasting of live opera, not to mention the broadcasting of a Champions league game for Portugal through Medialuso in 4K.
VSAT network services with Ufinet were renewed with the signing of a long-term contract, thus ensuring sound continuity of the corporate market in Spain. Sea mobility saw three new shipping companies begin to connect their ferries through HISPASAT satellites.
One of the major business milestones in 2017 was the agreement signed with Eurona to market practically 100% of Ka band capacity on board Hispasat 30W-6 and Hispasat 36W-1 satellites. Covering Spain, Portugal and Morocco, this Ka band will enable the internet via satellite service provider Quantis, a member of the Eurona Group, to provide services with much more efficient technical and economic benefits than those offered over the current Ka band.
The Conéctate Project was born with the aim of reducing the digital divide in Spain suffered by the most remote or depopulated áreas.
GET CONNECTED ‘CONÉCTATE’ PROJECT
With a view to increasing awareness of the possibilities satellites offer remote areas in Spain with no internet connection, in 2017 HISPASAT launched the #enREDatupueblo, an initiative within the Get Connected Project to reduce the digital divide in remote, unpopulated areas of the country.
Targeting those Spanish townlands and Singular Population Entities (ESP) with less than 800 inhabitants and no access to the internet or poor quality access, the competition price consisted of a year’s free, 30 Mbps internet access via satellite. The competition attracted the participation of 25 towns, with Magaña (Soria) coming out as winner, the denizens of which have been enjoying connectivity since last summer by way of four public WiFi points.
With a view to continue promoting the use of 4K technology in Europe, HISPASAT signed a contract with Media Broadcast Satellite to launch a 4K content distribution platform. This platform will make possible the deployment of 4K channels on the continent by means of a high-tech solution and a flexible business model for content providers.
As regards the mobility sector, HISPASAT has started to provide services in the Mediterranean through an agreement signed with Syntelix.
In Latin America, HISPASAT renewed its contract for Kioskos Vive Digital, the Colombian government’s Ministry of Information and Communications Technology programme.
Meanwhile, HISPASAT continues to grow in other countries, such as Paraguay, where ABC Teledifusora Paraguaya provides video distribution services over company satellites.
In Brazil, a reference market for HISPASAT, there was strong investment in the country’s main TV headends to adapt them to receive C band content from HISPASAT Amazonas satellites located at 61º West.
The company’s Brazilian subsidiary, HISPAMAR, renewed a considerable part of the capacities on lease to OI on the Amazonas 3 satellite, a long-term deal that serves to strengthen both its collaboration with and commitment to its Brazilian partner.
An agreement was also signed with Gilat in Brazil to jointly operate and market the Ka band capacity of the Amazonas 5 satellite, which has been in service since November 2017. This joint platform will enable internet operators and providers in the country to provide the latest generation, internet via satellite services to the residential market, as well as connectivity services for the business sector. The agreement also supports the deployment of 3G/4G mobile phone networks in areas lacking sufficient terrestrial transportation infrastructure.
After obtaining landing rights for several fleet satellites in Argentina, HISPASAT has finally paved the way to entering a market in which it has always been interested. Accordingly, it has closed a contract with Orbith Networks, in which the Boldt Group has a stake, for complete Argentinean K band beam capacity on the Amazonas 3 satellite.
Worthy of particular mention in North and Central America were the budget cuts by the Mexican government, thus putting on hold growth plans for government rural connectivity networks. HISPASAT has focused on laying the foundations there to prepare the renewal of current contracts on the Mexican Connected network programme, on which HISPASAT continues to be the main capacity provider with over 11,000 connected public buildings.
As far as the US is concerned, HISPASAT has won a specialist client in connectivity networks for the aviation sector, which has contracted a sizeable volume of the Amazonas 2 satellite capacity. Moreover, it has managed to close an important cellular backhaul contract, the end client of which is one of the biggest American cell phone operators. Corporate networks have also grown considerably, mainly for end clients in the oil and gas market.
Most contracts with the US Department of Defense (DoD) were renewed. Indeed, a new contract was won with Artel for the Pathfinder programme, which includes a specific on-board payload for the new HISPASAT satellite fleet.
Moreover, security and emergency applications were seen to be of vital importance in the Central and North American regions. The natural disasters that occurred in the course of 2017 have seen HISPASAT become a key provider to restore both private and government communications infrastructure.