Satellite Broadband Services Limping to the Starting Line

摘要

Broadband satellite service, long heralded as the next big thing for the commercial communications satellite industry, is finally moving into the starting position despite unexpected financial and technical hurdles. In a sign of the momentum in the industry for the new satellite application, Eutelsat recently picked Astrium to build W3A, a K_u- and K_a-band satellite designed to provide multimedia services in Europe and Africa. The new spacecraft will be positioned at 7 deg. E. Long., collocated with Eutelsat's W3 spacecraft in what will be the orbiting hub of the company's planned Open Sky multimedia and high-speed Internet operation (AW&ST Jan. 29, p. 40; Apr. 30, p. 27).