Intelsat is the world’s largest operator of satellites. It is a private firm with corporate headquarters in Luxembourg and its administrative headquarters in Washington, DC. Eutelsat is a European satellite operator based in Paris.
Intelsat confirmed press reports in Iran that it had booted all Iranian stations off its satellites. Intelsat didn’t say why it did so. Iranian press reports said it acted at the direction of the US government.
Eutelsat last month booted Iran’s television and radio stations off its satellites in response to frequent jamming from Iran of stations broadcasting into Iran—such as VOA, BBC and Radio Farda—via Eutelsat’s Hot Bird satellites.
Iran uses the satellites to send its broadcasts to viewers and listeners abroad. Being kicked off the satellites will not impact reception by Iranian audiences since they get their radio and television signals over the air, not from satellites.