March 28, 2011

Skylogic, the broadband subsidiary of Eutelsat Communications and skyDSL Global GmbH, a European pioneer of satellite Internet services, announce the extension of their longstanding partnership with an initial five-year contract amounting to €3 million enabling skyDSL to market the next-generation Tooway™ service provided by KA-SAT, Eutelsat's powerful new High Throughput Satellite.

Using the skyDSL2+ brand, skyDSL will offer consumers and small businesses download speeds of up to 10 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 4 Mbps via its sales channels. skyDSL2+ will be available in mid 2011 with KA-SAT's entry into service and will be provided on an international basis in Germany, Spain, France, Italy and Ireland.

With over 10 years experience in delivering satellite Internet access to users beyond range of terrestrial networks, skyDSL has built a European sales network and an evolving broadband product portfolio for consumers and small businesses.

Jan Hesse, Managing Director of skyDSL Global GmbH, commented on the new agreement: "We are proud to extend our collaboration with Skylogic and to raise our level of performance with the new-generation broadband service made possible by the KA-SAT satellite infrastructure. We welcome Eutelsat's move to a High Throughput Satellite which changes the paradigm for Internet by satellite. skyDSL has already initiated pre-sales activities and we are set on contributing to closing the digital divide in our target European markets with compelling services and pricing."

Arduino Patacchini, CEO of Skylogic responded: "As a seasoned provider of satellite-based Internet services, skyDSL Global's choice of our technology gives us further confidence in the potential of KA-SAT to deliver innovative broadband solutions for consumers and businesses. We look forward to continued collaboration so that users beyond range terrestrial infrastructure are not excluded from the significant benefits of broadband."

Launched in December 2010, and with total capacity of more than 70 Gbps, KA-SAT will usher in a new era of competitively-priced satellite-delivered services for homes and businesses across Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. KA-SAT uses next-generation two-way wireless Ka-band spotbeam technology, which lowers the cost of providing high-bandwidth access to the Internet. The complete KA-SAT infrastructure, comprising the satellite and a network of eight gateways across Europe connected to the Internet via a fibre backbone ring, will enter service in mid-2011.
The user equipment for Tooway™ comprises a small satellite dish and a modem connected to the PC via the Ethernet, giving immediate and always-on Internet access following simple installation. The service can also deliver Voice over IP, and Direct-to-Home television.