Two radio stations in Lithuania, Radio M-1 and Pukas, have signed long term contracts with NSAB, owner of the Sirius Satellites, based in Sweden. For the first time, national coverage of their radio broadcasts will be carried via a digital satellite system. The move will allow the radio station to operate independently while offering high quality broadcasting at a lower cost.

Payback time for M-1 will be less than two years as the terrestrial microwave links have been changed to satellite transmission via Sirius 2 says the Lithuanian radio company.
-Even in such a small country as like Lithuania, the use of satellite enables telecommunications cost savings, says Vidmantas Pupeikis, technical manager of Radio M-1. The new system is aimed at allowing the radio station to operate independently from the state monopoly distribution network, to provide high quality 24 hour broadcasting and reduce costs. Though it overcomes the problem of distributing programmes from studio to a national audience, the broadcasts can also be received throughout Europe, points out M-1.
Both companies started transmissions in August. Pukas is using a single 128 kbit/s digital channel while Radio M-1 is leasing two channels for the transmit of its M-1 and M-1 Plus services with a total capacity of 192 kbit/s each. Radio Riga in Latvia also signed up for a similar service over the last 12 months.
Charlotta Löfgren, sales manager at NSAB," satellite distribution is now proving itself to be competitive with terrestrial distribution of radio and television." This is thanks to the growth of digital broadcasting networks. She believes that such solutions would be appropriate for other European countries, particularly in the Baltic regions and other East European countries, where a terrestrial network is either lacking or too costly to set up and operate.
The company owns and operates the Sirius satellite system which allows the reception of transmissions with small antennas throughout the most of Europe. NSAB has been operating since 1983 and is based in Stockholm, Sweden. Owned by the Swedish Space Corporation, Teracom AB and Tele Danmark A/S, the company is able to offer a wide range of satellite broadcasting services and uplinking. They also offer digital television services such as coding, encryption and multiplexing. With its own sales force, the company is committed to expanding its business throughout Europe.

Caption
NSAB's Sirius satellite system provides coverage over most of Europe. Two radio stations in Lithuania have signed first-time contracts for digital satellite transmission.

For more information contact:
Charlotte Löfgren, Sales Manager Nordic Satellite Company (NSAB)
Vretenvägen 10
SE-171 54 Solna, Sweden
Phone: +46-8-445 17 59, mobile: +46-708-94 25 96
Fax: +46-8-28 24 80
http://www.nsab.se