Europe*Star signs two new customers

NEW YORK – Europe*Star, a joint venture between Loral Space & Communications and Alcatel Space, was selected to provide two European telecommunications companies with satellite transponder capacity for broadband Internet services.

Communications and Banking Equipment S.A. of Luxembourg (CBL) has leased two transponders on the Europe*Star 1 satellite to launch its new StarSpeeder service, which will deliver broadband Internet and IP streaming services to business-to-business and business-to-consumer markets within Europe and the Middle East. CBL will also offer direct video broadcast/Internet protocol (DVB/IP) platform, uplink and managed data services to these regions.

In a separate agreement, Polish Phonesat, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elektrim S.A. of Poland, has leased three satellite transponders from Europe*Star to deliver broadband Internet backbone connectivity and local distribution services to customers in Poland. In addition, Polish Phonesat will use this transponder capacity to directly connect remote ISPs that currently have limited or no access to local terrestrial fiber or cable. The company might also use the transponders for future VSAT applications within Poland.

Europe*Star currently operates two satellites serving Europe, the Middle East, southern Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and southeast Asia. Europe*Star 1 is a powerful inter-regional geostationary satellite, which was launched in October 2000 into its current slot at 45 east. Its 30 Ku-band transponders provide connectivity suitable for broadband, broadcast-mode delivery of IP and digital TV content.

Europe*Star B, located at 47.5 east, offers high powered, focused Ku-band coverage within Europe, suitable for point-to-point connections such as Internet 'backbone' circuits, occasional use TV and telephony.

CBL will be using capacity on Europe*Star 1, while Polish Phonesat has contracted for capacity to be split across both Europe*Star 1 and Europe*Star B.