SES Broadband Services, the internet via satellite subsidiary of satellite operator SES, has won the contracts to provide its Astra Connect for communities satellite broadband service to 36 German villages located across the Eifel district of Bitburg-Prüm.
The contracts were put out for public tenders with financial support from the Eifel district of Bitburg-Prüm, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the regional Improvement of Agricultural Structures and Coastal Protection programme. The plan is for all broadband access networks in Bitburg-Prüm to be rolled out by the end of May 2015.
Internet service provider Orbitcom is SES Broadband Services’ partner for the project and will be responsible for marketing, selling and managing the Astra Connect solution as well as providing customer support to end users.
The Astra Connect for communities broadband service has already been deployed in several parts of federal state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The solution uses a single satellite antenna installed as a central head-end while the broadband connection is supplied to end users via Wi-Fi access. This provides all households within the head-end reach with internet access at speeds of up to 25Mbps.
“Improving broadband penetration in our area is essential as fast and easy access to the internet ensures quality of life and competitiveness,” said district administrator Joachim Streit. “Our communities need high-speed internet and expanding the broadband infrastructure nationwide is essential for both businesses and residents in rural areas.”
Patrick Biewer, managing director of SES Broadband Services, added: “We are honoured to have won the contracts and to assist in providing broadband access for all in the region. This will further demonstrate that satellite technology is a key solution to accelerating broadband roll-out.”
