Eutelsat, Viasat to work together on providing internet services

PARIS (Thomson Financial) – Viasat Inc said it has agreed with Eutelsat Communications, Loral Space & Communications Corp and Telesat to work together to expand broadband internet services via satellite.ViaSat and Eutelsat are cooperating around ViaSat’s Ka-band SurfBeam networking system and a common wholesale business model to offer service through ISPs, telecommunication companies, and direct-to-home television providers, the US company said.Eutelsat announced separately that it has selected EADS Astrium to deliver its first satellite operating exclusively in Ka-band frequencies.The satellite will form the cornerstone of a major new satellite infrastructure programme that will significantly expand capacity for consumer broadband services across Europe and the Mediterranean Basin, while providing new opportunities for local and regional television markets, it said.In a linked move, Viasat said it has awarded a contract to Space Systems/Loral, a subsidiary of the Loral group, for the construction of Viasat-1, which it expects to be the world’s highest capacity broadband satellite.The company has secured financial commitments from partners of over 100 mln usd to date towards ViaSat-1, it said.Eutelsat and ViaSat are already partners in Eutelsat’s Tooway Ka-band service using the Hot Bird 6 satellite, the company added.Andrew.Newby@Thomson.coman/lamCOPYRIGHTCopyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.