ASTRA Connect to Help Bridge Digital Divide in French Schools

10 June 2014

SES Broadband Servicesannounced its Astra Connect solution has been selected as part of the “Connected Schools” project which is looking to connect and subsidise broadband delivery to nearly 9,000 eligible schools in France which are not served by fiber or terrestrial ADSL.

The offers of SBBS’ distribution partners, Connexion Verte, Wibox and Auvea were selected after meeting the eligibility criteria provided by the state and are based on the Astra Connect broadband via satellite service, in this case specifically tailored for schools.

The tailored Ka-band-based solution allows for download speeds of up to 25 Mbit/s and daily volume allowances. The volume includes 1 GB, 2 GB or 4 GB per day on school days from 7.00am to 6.00pm. During these hours and for the selected volume, the solution offers high priority access to the Astra Connect network. Outside of these times, or after exceeding the daily data, the service delivers unlimited access with download speeds of up to 16 Mbps in a best effort mode.

"We welcome the French Government’s decision to select our service as part of this very important national initiative. The deployment of ADSL and fiber networks has still not reached many schools in various regions and our solution will deliver to them immediate access comparable to urban broadband Internet networks. This project will further strengthen our position both in the French connectivity market and the education sector,” said Patrick Biewer, Managing Director of SES Broadband Services.