SES, the world’s one of the largest satellite operators, said on September 8, that it had signed a long-term agreement with Georgian mobile phone operator, MagtiCom, to provide the latter with capacity on SES satellite fleet for the launch of the first-ever digital satellite pay-TV in Georgia from January, 2012.

Through its direct-to-home (DTH) television platform, MagtiCom will offer local and international standard and high definition (SD and HD) channels, which will be available for reception with dishes sized at 60cm, SES said in the announcement.

"The launch of MagitCom's DTH platform once again demonstrates the ability of SES to help new market entrants to succeed,” Ferdinand Kayser, chief commercial officer at SES, said in a statement.

"Together with SES we will accelerate the digitalization in Georgia,” David Lee, general director of MagtiCom said. “With the excellent satellite fleet and technical know-how of our partner, we will provide Georgian TV-viewers with the highest quality of digital television services… It will allow Georgian TV viewers for the first time to receive a Georgian pay-TV offer from satellite."

MagtiCom said it would make its announcement about the company’s plans on September 9.

First Georgian pay-TV service was launched in January, 2011 by GMG, which offers six channels via cable networks, not through satellite. After the launch of GMG, local cable TV providers ceased carrying production of Russian pay-TV provider NTV Plus.