New satellite broadband to take VoIP to rural areas

A new broadband satellite service has been launched over Europe that hopes to expand DSL and VoIP coverage to remote rural areas.

The SES Astra ASTRA2Connect service has been launched with Filiago as an anchor customer in Germany.

SES Astra said a satellite-based DSL infrastructure is the only possibility for many rural regions in Germany to access high-speed DSL-internet.

According to official data from the German ministry for economy and technology at least 2.9 million German homes still do not have any access to broadband internet.

The new satellite services will also support voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services through technology which has been developed in cooperation with Newtec in Belgium and the European Space Agency (ESA).

"Together with Filiago, we will bring a highly innovative product to the German market that provides broadband internet access to everyone in Germany at an affordable price," said
Alexander Oudendijk, chief commercial officer of SES Astra.

"ASTRA2Connect is an impressive proof of the technological advantages of satellite broadband services for rural areas and a further step for SES ASTRA to deliver dual- and triple-play services by satellite to the German and European markets."