Eutelsat Communications has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China United Network Communications Co. Ltd. that is aimed at addressing the fast-growing satellite communications market in Asia-Pacific in the framework of the Belt and Road initiative. The MoU, which was signed on 9 January, by Rodolphe Belmer, CEO of Eutelsat and Xiaochu Wang, Chairman of China Unicom, aims in particular to leverage resources on the EUTELSAT 172B satellite to enhance inflight connectivity services across an area stretching from the West coast of North America to Asia, and down to Australia. Cooperation to further develop satellite communication services across the globe is also under consideration.