EUTELSAT Open For Business In The USA

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that the first licenses have been granted for accessing EUTELSAT satellite capacity from within the USA for services that will include IP broadband and video contributions. BT North America Inc and Group W Network Services (CBS Broadcasting Inc) are the first two companies authorized to uplink to EUTELSAT. The FCC order, issued in Washington on February 1, states: ""This action represents another step in implementing US market-opening commitments to satellites licensed by other countries. Allowing EUTELSAT II-F2 to serve the U.S. market should stimulate competition in the U.S. Fixed-Satellite Services market, providing consumers more alternatives in choosing communications providers and services. Increased competition may also lead to reduced prices for those services and further technological innovation."" FCC approval means that EUTELSAT is now open for business to US-based customers who have requirements for transatlantic connections and who are seeking access directly into the European market for corporate and consumer communications. Opportunities also exist for delivering content from Europe into the US market. In 1999 EUTELSAT positioned its first satellite over the Atlantic, at its 12.5 degrees West orbital slot which provides visibility of western Europe and the eastern seaboard of North America. It also launched construction of a new Ku-band satellite, called Atlantic Bird 1, which is due to go into orbit next year. Atlantic Bird 1s 20 Ku-band transponders will give North and South American content providers access to Europe and beyond as far as the Middle East, opening up important opportunities for satellite television and data broadcasting for the corporate sector and for the consumer market. Via a recent agreement with Loral Skynet, EUTELSAT is also using four transponders on the Telstar 12 satellite at 15 degrees West for transatlantic services. About EUTELSATWith its fleet of 15 satellites, Paris-based EUTELSAT is Europeís leading satellite operator and ranks as one of the largest globally, with reach across Europe, large parts of Africa, the Middle East and America. In addition to broadcasting almost 600 analog and digital TV channels to more than 81million satellite and cable homes EUTELSAT satellites are used for high-speed Internet connections and Internet backbone traffic, corporate networks, satellite newsgathering, telephony, and for mobile voice, data and positioning services. For more information, visit EUTELSATs web site at http://www.eutelsat.com .

Source: EUTELSAT