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Eutelsat
chairman and CEO Giuliano Berretta said,
"This new year of growth confirms the
strong momentum of our markets and the effectiveness
of our strategy which combines the development
of our in-orbit resources, positioning in
the most profitable applications of the
Fixed Satellite Services sector, and innovation.
"With
the launches of our Hot Bird 7A and Hot
Bird 8 satellites we have substantially
renewed capacity at our premium video neighbourhood
at 13 degrees East and opened three new
orbital positions by redeploying in-orbit
satellites. The opening of the 9 degrees
East position, which can be combined with
the Hot Bird neighbourhood for television
channel reception with a single antenna,
brings the Group important potential for
development in Europe and the Mediterranean
Basin.
"As
a result of the priority allocation of additional
resources to video applications in order
to support the strong dynamic of digital
broadcasting, we have been able to increase
the share of video in our business portfolio
to over 72 per cent, thereby reinforcing
strong visibility on revenues.
"In
parallel we have continued to develop our
portfolio of value added services on internet
markets, with a strong focus on addressing
corporate and local administrations and
have launched new broadband access solutions
for the specific markets of business aviation
and rail transport.
"Encouraged
by this year’s excellent performance,
by our privileged position in emerging markets
and by prospects for growth presented by
high-definition television and mobile services,
we are confident in our ability to pursue
earnings growth over the long-term. Our
revenue target for 2007/2008 is between
$1.15 billion and $1.16 billion and we have
revised upwards our EBITDA margin objective
to above 77.5 per cent."
The firm says that its in-orbit resources
were strengthened and optimised with 43
additional operating transponders and opening
of three new orbital positions. Video applications
showed an increase of $83 million to $797
million. There was a 23 per cent year-on-year
growth in the number of channels broadcast
across Eutelsat’s fleet. In European
Union countries served by the Hot Bird and
Eurobird 1 premium video neighbourhoods,
channels increased by 13 per cent.
At
the end of the fiscal year, the group’s
Hot Bird neighbourhood, which was strengthened
in October 2006 by the entry into service
of Hot Bird 8, was broadcasting 1,097 channels
to 121 million cable and satellite homes
in extended Europe, of which close to 48
million homes are equipped for Direct-to-Home
(DTH) reception.
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