Bermuda-registered commercial satellite service company Intelsat has, in the last few days, boosted its capability to beam TV and video programming across Europe and Latin America.

The successful launch of a new Intelsat-owned satellite last Friday and an agreement to purchase transponders operated on another satellite in a deal made public yesterday, has added to Intelsat's global reach.

On October 5 an Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket blasted into space carrying the Intelsat 11 satellite, which will host Latin America's premier video programmers.

The spacecraft will have a projected life of 16 years and offer coverage to the Americas and Europe. It will undergo testing during the coming weeks before going into service.

Yesterday the company also announced it has bought 10 transponders inboard Telenor's THOR 6 satellite, which will go into Earth orbit in 2009.

Under the contract with Telenor Satellite Broadcasting, Intelsat will expand its broadcasting coverage within Central and Eastern Europe.

The THOR 6 satellite is due to be launched either on an Ariane 5 or a Soyuz launcher from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.

Commenting on the THOR 6 deal, Cato Halsaa, CEO of Telenor Satellite Broadcasting said: "For Telenor Satellite Broadcasting and Intelsat, this contract signifies the joint ambition to make '1 degree W' the choice platform for broadcasting services in Central and Eastern Europe."

While David McGlade, CEO of Intelsat, said: "Central and Eastern Europe is fast becoming a highly competitive market, placing ever-increasing demands for quality DTH capacity. This agreement represents a new phase in growing our long-standing relationship with Telenor Satellite Broadcasting and enables us to provide our customers with the capacity required to support their future expansion plans in this region."

Of the successful launch of Intelsat 11, Mr. McGlade said: "It is an extremely important satellite for us and for our video customers. The increase of regional DTH (direct-to-home) services is a major catalyst for industry growth, and this orbital location one of the largest of the 27 DTH platforms we host worldwide."