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Digital services
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In 2006, total ASTRA coverage increased by 2.2 million to reach 109.2 million satellite and cable homes in 35 countries.
Within its footprint, ASTRA remains the leading European satellite system for direct-to-home reception: 47.2 million homes enjoy ASTRA programming directly via satellite. A further 62.0 million homes receive ASTRA via cable.
More than 1 out of 3 of all TV homes within the ASTRA footprint are now receiving digital services, compared to 26% at year end 2005...
In direct-to-home broadcasting, the DVB-S standard is used. In order to maintain the advantages of payload ranging on DVB-S operated satellites, we have developed the new DARTS. Unlike the well-known multi-lateration concept, which consists in several identical stations performing active ranging from different locations, the DARTS multi-station ranging approach is simpler. It consists of a single transmitting station, and multiple receive-only measurement stations...