Eutelsat’s Ka-Sat open for business

Eutelsat’s Ka-Sat satellite has entered into commercial service, giving a boost to the operator’s satellite broadband service Tooway.

Eutelsat’s new Ka-band system combines satellite and on-ground infrastructure to deliver broadband services of up to 10Mbps to users beyond range of terrestrial networks throughout Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. The operator predicts 17 million European homes cannot currently receive broadband speeds over 2Mbps.

The Tooway system, operated by Eutelsat’s Skylogic affiliate, can also be used for Voice-over-IP and IPTV services.

Separately, SES Astra has signed an agreement with YellowSat, a French start-up company that provides internet connectivity to enterprises, governments and institutions in Africa. The company is the first to use inclined orbit capacity on NSS-703 at the satellite’s new orbital location of 47° West.