Shaw 2010 Annual Report Download - page 17

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approximately 1,100,000 Digital Phone lines (primary and secondary lines on billing plus pending
installs).
Shaw Business Solutions
Shaw Business Solutions manages the national fibre network that is the primary Internet backbone for
Shaw’s broadband Internet customers. This backbone network is also used to carry Shaw Digital
Phone capacity and video signals. In addition, Shaw Business Solutions’ facilities are available to
internet service providers, cable companies, broadcasters, governments and other businesses and
organizations that require end-to-end Internet, data and voice connectivity. In particular, Shaw
Business Solutions is focused on being a major account and wholesale provider offering third parties
advanced high speed data connectivity and Internet services in Canada and the United States. Its
offerings currently include data, voice and video transport and Internet connectivity services. It also
continues to establish public and private peering arrangements and high speed connections to major
North American, European and Asian network access points and other tier-one backbone carriers.
2. Satellite
Satellite Services owns and leases, directly and indirectly, satellite transponders that receive and
amplify digital signals and transmit them to receiving dishes located within the footprint covered by
the satellite. Satellite Services’ interests in such transponders are set forth in the table below.
Satellite Transponders
Nature of Satellite Services
Interest
Anik F2 18 Ku-band Owned
6 Ku-band Leased
2 Ku-band (partial) Leased
Anik F1R 28 Ku-band Leased
1 C-band Leased
1 C-band (partial) Leased
Intelsat Galaxy 16 1 Ku-band (partial) Leased
Shaw Direct
With dual satellites (Anik F2 and Anik F1R) whose signals are received by customers through an
elliptical dish, as at August 31, 2010, Shaw Direct offered over 450 digital video and audio
channels with a programming line-up offering the majority of television services that are available in
Canada, including local over-the-air broadcasters, national networks, specialty channels, U.S. and
foreign channels, adult programming and ethnic services. Shaw Direct’s subscribers have the
option of choosing from a menu of programming packages designed to target and accommodate
subscriber interests, primary language, income level and type of household. Such packages are
marketed through Shaw Direct and a nation-wide distribution network of retail locations, including
Future Shop, Best Buy, The Brick, Visions, London Drugs, and various independent retailers.
Shaw Direct continues to transition to advanced modulation and encoding technology for its HD
broadcasting allowing it to increase its HD channel capacity. As part of its commitment to enhance
its service offerings, Shaw Direct continued to add HD channels during 2010 and as at August 31,
2010 offered 65 HD channels.
During 2010 Shaw Direct entered into agreements with Telesat to acquire capacity on a new
satellite expected to be available in late 2012. The new satellite was made possible pursuant to a
13
Shaw Communications Inc.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
August 31, 2010