Eutelsat
Communications announced the commercial entry into service of its KA-SAT High
Throughput Satellite, marking the official launch of its new-generation Tooway
broadband service.

 

Eutelsat’s
all Ka-band system, combining satellite and on-ground infrastructure, opens a
new chapter in the market for satellite-based IP services.
As a powerful new platform for delivering high-bandwidth services to users
beyond range of terrestrial networks, it can deliver cost-effective and
competitive solutions that contribute to building inclusive digital economies
across Europe and the Mediterranean Basin.

 

The entry
into service of KA-SAT, the world’s most powerful spotbeam satellite, turns a
new page in affordable and immediately available IP solutions, and places Europe at the forefront of high-capacity satellite
technologies that can serve to quickly close the broadband gap. We look forward
to working with our service and technology partners to unleash the huge
potential of this new pan-European wireless infrastructure,” said Michel de Rosen, CEO of Eutelsat.

 

The
new-generation Toowaysystem
now running through KA-SAT, and shown live in locations from Dublin to Athens, is a
cost-effective and immediate response to users waiting to access the benefits
of broadband irrespective of their location.

 

Europe’s broadband map shows
that at least 13 million households are still beyond range of ADSL, and 17
million access the Internet at speeds below 2 Mbps, which closes the door to
many media-rich applications that users today expect to use on a daily basis.

 

Operated by
Eutelsat’s Skylogic affiliate,
Tooway can provide homes with an always-on service delivering speeds of up to
10 Mbps downstream and 4 Mbps upstream. The customer equipment comprises a
small satellite dish (77 cm) and a sleek modem, which is connected to a PC or
Mac via an Ethernet connection.

 

Customers
can select professional or self installation. The equipment is installed by
pointing the dish to 9degrees East using an included sound beeper and following
indications on-screen to activate the modem. The Tooway system can also be used
for Voice over IP and IPTV. With a dual-feed (Ku-Ka), Direct-to-Home reception
of television channels from adjacent broadcast satellites is also possible.