Distribution Network of Eutelsat's Tooway(TM) Broadband Service Gathers Speed With TelDaFax in Germany
COLOGNE and TROISDORF, Germany and PARIS, June 3/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) and TelDaFax
Communications GmbH today announced an agreement for the immediate
distribution of the Tooway(TM) satellite broadband service in Germany.
Skylogic, Eutelsat's broadband affiliate, will be directly responsible for
the distribution contract with TelDaFax.
Eutelsat's ground-breaking 2Mbps broadband service is a true
high-speed satellite alternative for consumers looking for broadband access
in areas with poor or no ADSL infrastructure. TelDaFax Communications GmbH is
a subsidiary of the TelDaFax Group that provides consumers throughout Germany
with competitive one-stop shopping telecommunications, electricity, finance
and insurance services.
TelDaFax Communications is expanding its existing portfolio of
broadband solutions with the Tooway(TM) satellite broadband service, which it
will immediately market under the German brand name "all DSL" via its
multiple distribution channels across Germany. The consumer premises
equipment for the service comprises a satellite dish and modem. TelDaFax is
also working on VoIP as an add-on to the broadband service.
The Tooway(TM) service will be provided to TelDaFax
Communications via Ku-band capacity on Eutelsat's EUROBIRD(TM) 3 satellite
which offers full coverage of Germany via a high-power regional beam. The
Ku-band hub is operated by Skylogic, from its state-of-the-art SkyPark
teleport in Turin, Italy.
"There are more than 1,000 ADSL-free areas nationwide in
Germany," said Rolf Diederichs, Managing Director of TelDaFax Communications.
"We have very carefully watched and tested all existing satellite two-way
solutions and other technical alternatives and selected a powerful and
affordable solution for our ADSL customers living in those areas. The
high-performance and scalability of Tooway(TM), its infrastructure and the
future options with the upcoming launch of Eutelsat's powerful KA-SAT
satellite convinced us to cooperate with Europe's market-leader in satellite
broadband for bridging the digital divide in Germany where satellite is the
only route to broadband for more than one million homes. Thanks to Tooway(TM)
we are now in a position to offer a valid alternative to ADSL services
throughout the country."
"We are delighted to further extend distribution of Tooway(TM)
in Germany with TelDaFax, whose extensive nationwide marketing network and
experience will enable our satellite broadband service to accelerate its
reach into homes across Germany. In advance of the launch in 2010 of our
KA-SAT satellite, Eutelsat's existing satellite capacity and ViaSat's
high-performance broadband technology are enabling us to make a real impact
in the market for high-quality and affordable consumer satellite broadband
services. Following on from significant distribution agreements, including
Swisscom in Switzerland, this new contract shows that Tooway(TM) is a first
choice for partners for whom quality of service is a key expectation," said
Arduino Patacchini, CEO of Skylogic and Multimedia Director of Eutelsat.
Tooway(TM) is a new-generation high-quality and affordable
broadband service designed for residential users, with equipment a fraction
the cost of existing enterprise-focused satellite services. As a new
broadband alternative for homes with low-speed dial-up, Tooway(TM) can at
last change the price/performance paradigm for consumer satellite Internet
access in rural areas across Europe.
The service is based on ViaSat's SurfBeam DOCSIS(R) two-way
broadband satellite system. Unlike other consumer satellite Internet
services, this system requires no connection via cable or phone lines.
SurfBeam is well established in North America with more than 400,000 users
since its launch three years ago.
The Tooway(TM) distribution agreement with TelDaFax joins
those already concluded in key European markets in Germany, France, Italy,
Spain, Bulgaria and Switzerland.
http://www.teldafax.de
About Eutelsat Communications
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code:
FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity
commercialised on 24 satellites that provide coverage over the entire
European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant
parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading
satellite operators in terms of revenues. At 31 March 2008, Eutelsat's
satellites were broadcasting almost 3,000 television channels and 1,100 radio
stations. More than 1,100 channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video
neighbourhood at 13 degrees East which serves over 120 million cable and
satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Group's
satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications
services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets
for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight
markets. Eutelsat's broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates
services through teleports in France and Italy that serve enterprises, local
communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa,
Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries
employ 538 commercial, technical and operational experts from 27 countries.
http://www.eutelsat.com
For further information from TelDaFax Communications GmbH:
TelDaFax Holding AG, Thomas Muller, Mottmannstrasse 2, 53842 Troisdorf
Tel: +49-2241-9434-781, e-mail: Thomas.Mueller@teldafax.de .
For further information:
Press:
Vanessa O'Connor,
Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88,
voconnor@eutelsat.fr ;
Frederique Gautier,
Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88,
fgautier@eutelsat.fr .
Investors:
Gilles Janvier,
Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-30,
investors@eutelsat-communications.com .
Source: Eutelsat Communications
For further information from TelDaFax Communications GmbH: TelDaFax Holding AG, Thomas Muller, Mottmannstrasse 2, 53842 Troisdorf Tel: +49-2241-9434-781, e-mail: Thomas.Mueller@teldafax.de . For further information: Press: Vanessa O'Connor, Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88, voconnor@eutelsat.fr ; Frederique Gautier, Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88, fgautier@eutelsat.fr . Investors: Gilles Janvier, Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-30, investors@eutelsat-communications.com .
2008-06-03 04:50:02 0375454 PRNEWSWIRE