MUMBAI: M7 Group has signed a long-term agreement with SES Astra to have an additional transponder on Astra at 23.5 degrees East. The capacity will be used for the continued transmission of Dutch regional broadcasters as well as for additional high definition (HD) services.
  
The agreement represents the fifth Astra 23.5 East transponder that M7 Group contracted since the introduction of Astra 23.5 East in 2007 as a new DTH hot spot for the Benelux market that consists of countries like Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Due to the successful introduction in 2007 of the Duo LNB for the simultaneous reception of Astra 19.2 East and 23.5 East, a vast majority of DTH homes in the Benelux countries are in a position of receiving programmes via both positions. 
 
The launch by M7 Group of an extensive line-up of over 25 HD channels for the Dutch and Flemish markets in 2007 was another important stimulus for the rapid 23.5 East development in the Benelux market.

The Luxembourg-based M7 Group provides DTH to more than one million homes in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria using the brand names CanalDigitaal, TV Vlaanderen, TéléSat and AustriaSat.

In addition, M7 Group operates four transponders at Astra at 19.2 degrees East.