EUSANET and Eutelsat Broadband introduce groundbreaking satellite-based broadband solution for German communities via Wi-Fi

EUSANET solution

Transforms ability to supply larger communities with faster broadband speeds without the need for terrestrial infrastructure

Germany – EUSANET, a leading German provider of satellite-based broadband access solutions and Eutelsat Broadband have joined forces to deliver a groundbreaking new broadband solution for rural German communities by combining satellite-based Internet services with Wi-Fi networks. The solution sets new benchmarks for rural connectivity with the capability to deliver download speeds of up to 100 Mbps to individuals in communities of several hundred homes - outstripping the capabilities of mobile LTE technology.

With this new solution, broadband services can be delivered quickly and without large-scale construction work in regions un- and underserved with ADSL infrastructures.

The Black Forest community of Oberried / St. Wilhelm is the first to benefit from the solution. The network went live at the end of September and combines service from the Eutelsat KA-SAT satellite with a high-speed wireless network based on the latest Wi-Fi technology. This combined solution currently delivers download speeds of up to 30 Mpbs and uplink speeds of up to 5 Mbps per household but could be upgraded further in the future. The internet access service is complemented by Voice-over-IP telephony services. The first tests to supply households with TV over the same system are also under way. This additional innovation would allow communities in some mountainous areas to receive terrestrial television for the first time.

To receive the service, customers need just a 12cm external antenna to access EUSANET broadband. At the heart of the community solution are satellite dishes with reception and transmitting units connected to the Internet via the high throughput satellite KA-SAT. Based in the community are a server, router, satellite modems and the latest wireless units. Three radio cells, with a reach of several kilometers, supply the households using free and public frequencies. Additional radio cells outside the community of St. Wilhelm are also under construction to extend the service.

“The great innovation here is the ability to combine the speed and reach of the broadband service using the latest generation of satellite and Wi-Fi technology,’ explained Stephan Schott, Managing Director of EUSANET GmbH. “Each home connected to the system is equipped with a receiver and antenna, which means each home helps transmit the signal to the next – vastly extending the reach of the service over several kilometers. This is particular important in mountainous regions where traditionally the reach of Wi-Fi and mobile service is vastly restricted by the topography.”

The roll-out of the service to the Black Forest community took just three days and the Wi-Fi community network does not require a large capital expenditure. This means the system can be implemented by communities without having to apply for state subsidies, which can take a long time to process. Using wireless radio removes the need for long and large-scale construction work for cable routing. As a stand-alone system, there is also no requirement to connect to any other existing communication networks.

“The combination of broadband via satellite with Wi-Fi community networks is accelerating the roll-out of broadband in rural areas. First reactions to this first joint project between EUSANET and Eutelsat Broadband have confirmed our strategy. We have seen extremely high demand. All our expectations were exceeded with the market launch,” added Stephan Schott, who is in discussion with other communities for the implementation of additional satellite-based Wi-Fi community networks.

“Thanks to the enormous capacities of KA-SAT, we are able to offer satellite based broadband access services to entire communities and individual households, as well as enterprises and broadcasters. With its extensive footprint across Europe, the KA-SAT satellite is the ideal solution for those requiring high-speed broadband access out of the range of ADSL services,” explained Udo Neukirchen, Managing Director of Eutelsat Germany.

Additional video case study information on the deployment can be found at: http://eutelsatbroadband.com/case-studies/eutelsat-ka-sat-satellite-helps-rural-german-communities-bridge-the-digital-divide/

EUSANET
EUSANET GmbH, located in Bischberg Germany, has been a leading service provider and pioneer for Internet via satellite solutions in Germany and Europe for more than a decade. The company, with its partner Eutelsat, addresses consumers, semi-professional users, large enterprises and institutions with tailored broadband access solutions in rural areas with no or insufficient terrestrial infrastructures. EUSANET optimises its services by using its own gateways and offering attractive additional services like Voice-over-IP. The company also offers an exclusive broadband access solution for communities based on Eutelsat’s KA-SAT satellite. www.eusanet.de

About Eutelsat Broadband
Eutelsat Broadband is a business unit of Eutelsat, one of the world’s leading satellite operators. It provides satellite broadband services to residential and professional markets, as well as to broadcasters, across the European continent, North Africa and large parts of the Middle East. Its residential product tooway™ is the best in class satellite broadband solution and a unique cost-effective alternative to terrestrial access technologies in unserved and underserved areas, with download speeds up to 22 Mbps and upload speeds up to 6 Mbps. The connectivity needs of corporate customers and telcos are catered for by tooway™ Business solutions. tooway™ Business offers broadband packages with a wide range of data allowances up to 200GB a month and a host of flexible B2B features including Public IP addresses, Business Hour Protection and a full array of customisable options including guaranteed bandwidth speeds. Eutelsat Broadband also provides the latest IP based satellite news gathering solutions, with its NewsSpotter service. For more information, visit: www.eutelsatbroadband.com www.tooway.de/business