Vivacom and Eutelsat Group launch fourth European Ground Station in Bulgaria

Photo credit: Courtesy of United Group Vivacom

Press release - 6 December 2023 18:00

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Sofia, 6 December 2023 - Vivacom, part of the United Group, the leading telecommunications and media services provider in South-eastern Europe, and Eutelsat Group, one of the worlds leading satellite Internet providers, announced the commercial launch of their ground station in Bulgaria. This fourth-of-its-kind facility in Europe and one of 35 already operating in the world, will enable expanded communications services for Eutelsat Group's low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity services. A year ago, Vivacom announced that it started the construction of the station of the satellite operator OneWeb, which since September this year merged with the French Eutelsat and now operates under the name Eutelsat Group.

The project is being implemented at Vivacoms site in Stara Zagora municipality, where it will provide additional jobs in the 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 Vivacoms place on the international map in this sector. We believe that, with the right strategic vision, targeted investments and high expertise of our team, we can set standards on a global scale and attract more and more international technology companies ready to invest in Bulgaria, said Nikolay Andreev, CEO of Vivacom.

The ground station consists of 18 antennas and a mini data centre that connects the LEO satellites to the optical network and data centres in Bulgaria and Europe. Construction began in late 2022 and, despite the adverse weather conditions, was completed in May 2023, and was followed by a successful testing-and-commissioning procedure.

42 years after Stara Zagora made headlines with its contribution to the first Bulgarian artificial satellite Intercosmos Bulgaria 1300, this project puts our city back on the map of the global space industry. With open arms, we welcome the investment in this remarkable satellite communications project, knowing that it will not only stimulate the development of our city but also contribute to digital inclusion throughout Eurasia, said Zhivko Todorov, the Mayor of Stara Zagora.

We extend our gratitude to Vivacom for their collaboration and assistance in establishing an additional ground station for our LEO network. We are steadily advancing towards providing global connectivity services, and this new site represents another significant stride toward achieving our overarching goal. Vivacom not only brings a wealth of telecommunications expertise but also invaluable local knowledge, making them an essential partner, said Massimiliano Ladovaz, Chief Operations Officer, Eutelsat Group.

Topics

Telecom

Radio, TV

Electronic business, communication

Innovations, inventions

Network products

Telecommunication, mobile telephony

About Eutelsat Group

Eutelsat Group is a global leader in satellite communications, delivering connectivity and broadcast services worldwide. The Group was formed through the combination of the Company and OneWeb in 2023, becoming the first fully integrated GEO-LEO satellite operator with a fleet of 36 Geostationary satellites and a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation of more than 600 satellites.

The Group addresses the needs of customers in four key verticals of Video, where it distributes more than 6,500 television channels, and the high-growth connectivity markets of Mobile Connectivity, Fixed Connectivity, and Government Services.

Eutelsat Group's unique suite of in-orbit assets enables it to deliver integrated solutions to meet the needs of global customers. The Company is headquartered in Paris and the Eutelsat Group employs more than 1,700 people across more than 50 countries. The Group is committed to delivering safe, resilient, and environmentally sustainable connectivity to help bridge the digital divide. The Company is listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ticker: ETL) and the London Stock Exchange (ticker: ETL)

Media enquiries

Anita Baltagi

Tel. 33 1 53 98 4747

abaltagi@eutelsat.com

Armand Noury

Tel. 33 6 60 07 16 97

eutelsat@agenceproches.com

Katie Dowd

kdowd@oneweb.net

Alastair Elwen

Tel. 44 20 7 251 3801

EutelsatGroup@fgsglobal.com

Investors

Thomas Cardiel

Tel. 33 6 99 07 86 47

tcardiel@eutelsat.com

Hugo Laurens Berge

hlaurensberge@eutelsat.com

Christine Lopez

Tel.: 33 1 53 98 47 02

clopez@eutelsat.com

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