Low-cost satellite-based broadband for commercial and leisure ships
Luxembourg, September 23rd, 2009. – SES S.A. (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock
Exchange: SESG), announced today that it has expanded the market for its successful
satellite-based interactive broadband service ASTRA2Connect, and is now offering the
service in the maritime market to commercial fleets and leisure yachts operating mainly in
the North and Baltic Seas, and the northern Mediterranean.
In connection with this expanded offering, an agreement for the development and
deployment of in-motion satellite antennas has been signed with KNS, a leading
manufacturer of marine stabilised antenna systems for satellite communications and
television at sea. Also, an additional agreement has been signed with the wholesale British
satellite communications provider H2OSatellite to distribute the dedicated maritime service in
Europe. Under the brand name H2OLiteSpeed, the company will offer a range of speed
packages with download rates of up to 2 Mbit/s, and additional Voice over Internet Protocol
(VoIP) telephony for low monthly fees.
Launched in early 2007, ASTRA2Connect provides cost-efficient and easy to install
broadband connectivity, especially in regions without access to terrestrial broadband
networks. The innovative satellite technology provides highly-reliable, always-on, interactive
broadband internet access and internet telephony for flat service fees. ASTRA2Connect is
now available in 14 European countries with more than 45,000 subscribers. Due to the
success of the technology, SES most recently expanded ASTRA2Connect into the African
market, offering the service in 10 countries in Central and Eastern Africa.
"Our cooperation with KNS and H2OSatellite to offer ASTRA2Connect to the maritime
market clearly shows the potential of our successful interactive satellite broadband
technology," said Norbert Willems, Managing Director of ASTRA Broadband Services. "We
are very proud that we can now also offer customers at sea an affordable and highly-reliable
solution to easily access broadband services."
"It is an honour to be working with SES to expand ASTRA2Connect and provide a
broadband offer for the maritime market," said Kevin Jin, President and CEO of KNS. "The
ASTRA2Connect maritime service moves us one step closer to our goal of bringing
affordable, high-speed internet connections and voice services with very reasonable airtime
charges to European maritime customers."
"H2OSatellite is constantly pushing the boundaries of maritime communications, so the
exclusive partnership with SES and KNS to provide H2OLiteSpeed in Europe is a very
significant step forward," said Robert Kenworthy, Managing Director of H2OSatellite. "The
combination of compact equipment, reliable satellite technology and bandwidth optimisation
is exactly what the maritime market wants."
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