Page 35 - SAMENA Trends - December 2023

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Eutelsat and Vivacom Group launch fourth

European Ground Station in Bulgaria

Eutelsat Group, one of the world's believe that, with the right strategic vision, welcome the investment in this remarkable
leading satellite Internet providers and targeted investments and high expertise satellite communications project,
Vivacom, part of the United Group, the of our team, we can set standards on a knowing that it will not only stimulate
leading telecommunications and media global scale and attract more and more the development of our city but also
services provider in South-eastern Europe, international technology companies ready contribute to digital inclusion throughout
announced the commercial launch of their to invest in Bulgaria,” said Nikolay Andreev, Eurasia,” said Zhivko Todorov, the Mayor
ground station in Bulgaria. This fourth-of- CEO of Vivacom. The ground station of Stara Zagora. "We extend our gratitude
its-kind facility in Europe and one of 35 consists of 18 antennas and a mini data to Vivacom for their collaboration and
already operating in the world, will enable centre that connects the LEO satellites to assistance in establishing an additional
expanded communications services for the optical network and data centers in ground station for our LEO network. We
Eutelsat Group’s low Earth orbit (LEO) Bulgaria and Europe. Construction began in are steadily advancing towards providing
connectivity services. A year ago, Vivacom late 2022 and, despite the adverse weather global connectivity services, and this
announced that it started the construction conditions, was completed in May 2023, new site represents another significant
of the station of the satellite operator and was followed by a successful testing- stride toward achieving our overarching
OneWeb, which since September this year and-commissioning procedure. “42 years goal. Vivacom not only brings a wealth of
merged with the French Eutelsat and now after Stara Zagora made headlines with its telecommunications expertise but also
operates under the name Eutelsat Group. contribution to the first Bulgarian artificial invaluable local knowledge, making them
The project is being implemented at satellite 'Intercosmos Bulgaria 1300', this an essential partner,” said Massimiliano
Vivacom's site in Stara Zagora municipality, project puts our city back on the map of the Ladovaz, Chief Operations Officer, Eutelsat
where it will provide additional jobs in the global space industry. With open arms, we Group.
region for the next 10 years. It will also
put Stara Zagora on the world map of
space technology and communications.
Because of all these economic benefits,
the project has been awarded Class C
certification. “We are happy that, in just 1
year, we were able to launch this important
project, which will bring long-term benefits
to business and society in our country. We
remain true to our strategy to continue
investing, innovating, and offering high-
quality products and services based on
the most modern technologies, which
deservedly strengthen Vivacom's place on
the international map in this sector. We

Rawafed Expands Agreement with Eutelsat OneWeb

Eutelsat OneWeb has signed what it de- erator Rawafed Libya (RLTT) to deliver con- pand its relationship with Eutelsat Group to
scribes as a ‘multi-million dollar exclusive nectivity services across the North African include a hybrid bundle of both enhanced
distribution agreement’ with telecoms op- country. The agreement will see RLTT ex- geostationary (GEO) and Low Earth Orbit
(LEO) services. Eutelsat OneWeb will pro-
vide exclusive access to its LEO powered
connectivity constellation, delivering full
connectivity over Libya from early 2024.
The services will provide high speed, low
latency connectivity for a range of applica-
tions including commercial connectivity to
the oil and gas and financial services indus-
tries, government sectors, cellular backhaul
for telecoms operators and remote connec-
tivity for humanitarian organizations.

35 DECEMBER 2023