SES Broadband Services, the subsidiary of satellite operator SES providing high-speed internet via satellite solutions, has expanded its partnership with German internet service provider Orbitcom to include the deployment of Astra Connect to communities in Germany.
The new deal follows Orbitcom’s rollout of the Astra Connect broadband internet via satellite service to individual households and businesses. The partnership which has been in place since April 2014 has now been extended to include the marketing of Astra Connect for communities.
The solution uses a single antenna to provide an entire community with a satellite broadband connection which is then distributed through a local network infrastructure such as Wi-Fi. Users within the reach of the network will be able to browse the different packages offered online and then place orders through a dedicated website and webshop set up by Orbitcom. The company will also be responsible for the delivery of the equipment and customer support.
“Our Astra Connect for communities service provides a much needed solution for people who cannot be supplied with a high-speed internet connection via the terrestrial infrastructure,” said Patrick Biewer, managing director of SES Broadband Services. “By expanding our partnership with Orbitcom, we are able to extend and accelerate the rollout of this solution to villages and communities in Germany.”
Andreas Schmidt, CEO of Orbitcom, added: “With Astra Connect for communities, we can reach 100% of households where broadband access is insufficient. It is a quick and inexpensive solution for underserved communities.”
