LUXEMBOURG, Thursday, October 14th 2010 [ME NewsWire]:
(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SES S.A. (Paris:SESG)(LuxX:SESG), announced today that it has signed a service agreement with the South African information and communications technology provider SkyeVine (Pty) Ltd. for the delivery of its satellite broadband service in Africa. The agreement is the second for SES’ ASTRA2Connect broadband platform on the African continent.
SkyeVine, a joint venture company between Q-KON and Ellies Holding Ltd., will provide the ASTRA2Connect broadband service to internet service providers, corporations and public institutions for resale in sub-Saharan Africa. Q-KON is a South-African based engineering group that provides turnkey solutions and managed network services to the African telecommunications market. Ellies Ltd is presently the largest manufacturer, importer, wholesaler and distributor of TV reception related products in southern Africa.
“Our agreement with SkyeVine is an important strategic step for the expansion of SES’ business in Africa,” said Norbert Hölzle, Chief Commercial Officer at SES ASTRA. “The success of our innovative broadband technology in Europe has already demonstrated that we are in the market with the right product at the right time. We are confident to continue this success throughout Africa as well.”
“SES’ broadband service will greatly enhance the broadband product offering in the African market,” said Dawie de Wet, CTO at SkyeVine and CEO at Q-KON. “Large parts of the continent suffer from a lack of broadband networks, but reliable, cost-effective broadband connections are necessary for the economy and society to keep up with the rest of the world. With our new product we can offer Africa exactly that.”
ASTRA2Connect is an interactive satellite-based broadband internet access that is offered via distribution partners to end customers and businesses in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The service is independent from any terrestrial networks and immediately available anywhere within the footprint of the satellite. To date, ASTRA2Connect has more than 65,000 end-users in Europe, thereby representing the largest satellite-based broadband network on the continent.
About SES
SES (Paris:SESG)(LuxX:SESG) wholly owns the market-leading satellite operators SES ASTRA and SES WORLD SKIES, and participations in Ciel in Canada, QuetzSat in Mexico as well as a strategic participation in satellite infrastructure start-up O3b Networks. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via a global fleet of 44 satellites. For further information: www.ses.com.
About SES ASTRA
SES ASTRA is the leading Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite system in Europe. The satellite fleet currently comprises 16 satellites. The ASTRA satellite system delivers services to more than 125 million DTH and cable households and transmits more than 2,600 analogue and digital television and radio channels. SES ASTRA also provides satellite-based multimedia, internet and telecommunication services to enterprises, governments and their agencies. With 150 High Definition (HD) channels on its main orbital positions, ASTRA represents the most important HDTV platform for Europe's leading broadcasters. The prime orbital positions for ASTRA are 19.2 degrees East, 28.2 degrees East, 23.5 degrees East, 5 degrees East and 31.5 degrees East. For further information: www.ses-astra.com.
About SkyeVine
SkyeVine (Pty) Ltd is a joint venture company that has been established to provide DTHi (direct to home internet) to the sub-Saharan market. Our aim is to overcome infrastructure-related obstacles present in the African market with the introduction of satellite broadband that is cost effective, reliable and readily available – how you want it, when you want it, where you want it.
SkyeVine, together with the strength of Q-KON's engineering capability and their experience in managing networks in the emerging African telecommunications market, and Ellies Holding Ltd, the leading manufacturer, importer and distributor of satellite-related products in southern Africa, provides for a winning solution.
Our mission is to provide a ubiquitous internet service to Africa and to create a new standard of broadband service through the use of advanced satellite technology.
For media enquiries, please contact:
SES ASTRA
Markus Payer
+ 352 710 725 500
markus.payer@ses-astra.com
SES
Yves Feltes
+ 352 710 725 311
Yves.Feltes@ses.com
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