France-based satellite giant Eutelsat said Friday it has pinpointed a location in Iran from where signals of international channels broadcasting in Farsi are being disrupted.
Iran views broadcasters Voice of America, BBC Persian, and Deutsche Welle as illegally beaming their programs into the country.
The satellite company and broadcasters have appealed to international and European regulatory authorities to end what it sees as a violation of international rights. Eutelsat has for more than two years condemned what it says is intentional jamming of its satellites by outside sources.
The interference hinders reception of the Farsi international news channels that are an alternative to state-controlled Iranian media.
On Thursday, a commentary in the Paris newspaper La Tribune repeated a charge from French parliament member Jean-Louis Bianco that Eutelsat was interfering with its own transmission into Iran and bowing to Iranian pressures. Eutelsat said Friday it “categorically denies” the claim.
The company says it has worked around jamming efforts from Iran by offering broadcasters the use of other satellites in its fleet.