Eutelsat has selected Newtec to provide a Sat3Play® hub to be installed in its earth station in Sardinia

PARIS, France, and SINT-NIKLAAS, Belgium, 9 September 2011 Eutelsat’s broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, has selected leading satellite communications specialist Newtec for a major contract to deliver a Sat3Play® hub to be installed in its Sardinia earthstation.

With capacity commercialised on 27 satellites that provide coverage across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators.

“Thanks to the low price of the Newtec technology, this Ku-band service, operated by Skylogic, will be dedicated to SOHO and consumer markets in western and central Africa,” said Arduino Patacchini, CEO Skylogic - Eutelsat’s broadband subsidiary.

Patacchini added: “Several of Africa’s leading ISPs have already signed up for the service, which is set to become operational later this year. We will resell the service to other African ISPs while Newtec sells Sat3Play terminals directly to the consumer,” he said.

Sat3Play is a two-way satellite broadband system designed for IP-based service providers such as ISPs wanting to offer competitive voice, data and television services in areas where insufficient terrestrial broadband connectivity is available.

Serge Van Herck, CEO of Newtec, said: “Our low-cost, Ka-band-ready future-proof Sat3Play terminals include both FlexACM® technology and the revolutionary 4CPM modulation. This will mean a fast and cost effective service offering in Africa.”

As well as broadband markets for Internet service providers, over 120 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa are served by Eutelsat’s satellites for a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services.

Newtec and Eutelsat will be showcasing the Sat3Play terminal at the IBC2011 show taking place at Amsterdam RAI between 8 – 13 September.