The most powerful satellite in the world went into service Monday, providing broadband-speed satellite internet services to more than a million households across Europe currently without high-speed internet.
Eutelsat’s High Throughput Satellite, KA-SAT, which was launched on Dec 26 from Baikonur in Kazakhstan, will provide consumers up to 10 Mb/s download and 4 Mb/s upload. The service will also provide a service to enterprises of up to 50 Mb/s. According to Michel de Rosen, CEO of the Paris-based Eutelsat, there are some 13m households across Europe that are currently too remote to be served by high broadband. In addition, says Mr. de Rosen, there are another 17m unable to get broadband faster than 2 Mb/s.
There is an E.U. commitment to provide broadband access to all citizens by 2013. Eutelsat, which offers satellite services mainly to the broadcast industry, will act as a wholesaler of the internet services. Mr. de Rosen suggested that the basic service would be around EUR 30 a month. In addition users would need to purchase a modem and the 77cm satellite dish. This would cost an additional EUR 250.
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