Astra To Launch Satellite Based Broadband Service
SES Astra is launching a fully satellite-based interactive and low-cost broadband internet service for the residential market, small and home offices, as well as small and medium enterprises.
The service, called ASTRA2Connect, will provide a full satellite-based triple-play service enabling broadband internet access, voice-over-IP and other content related access services such as IPTV or video-on-demand.
Astra expects the service to be operational in the first quarter of 2007 and will mainly target homes in Europe, which can not easily get terrestrial broadband internet services.
ASTRA2Connect is currently offered on a wholesale basis to large European service providers such as telecommunication operators, internet service providers and broadband operators.
Ferdinand Kayser, president and chief executive officer of SES Astra, said: “ASTRA2Connect is a great innovation that brings broadband internet access to everyone – whenever and wherever.
“The end-consumers will benefit from an affordable and always-on two-way connectivity. We are proud to offer this revolutionary satellite-based infrastructure and envisage to extend ASTRA2Connect to other regions of the world in the near future.”