SES ASTRA, an SES company (Paris:SESG)(LuxX:SESG), announced today that is has signed a cooperation agreement with LTO Commerce, the sales division of the Dutch Federation of Agriculture and Horticulture, to provide its members with SES ASTRA´s satellite–based two–way broadband service ASTRA2Connect. The cooperation is supported by the Chairman of the Dutch Parliamentary Commission for Agriculture.
Currently, 200,000 to 250,000 households in the Netherlands do not have access to high–speed internet, mainly in the rural areas of the country. Many of them are agricultural entrepreneurs who depend on fast internet connections for the success of their businesses.
ASTRA2Connect is a fully satellite–based solution for broadband access that enables households in regions without terrestrial broadband connection to access broadband services. The innovative infrastructure offers a very reliable, always–on, two–way broadband internet access for flat service fees as well as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The customer premises equipment - a modem and a satellite dish - is low cost and delivered with a tool for easy self–installation. In the Netherlands, ASTRA2Connect is marketed and sold to the residential market via SES ASTRA´s service provider Satelliet Electronics.
"Our cooperation with LTO shows that ASTRA2Connect is in great demand, especially among end customers in rural areas," said Norbert Willems, Managing Director of ASTRA Broadband Services. "With the agricultural market as one of the key business sectors in the Netherlands, we are very proud that we are able to offer farmers without broadband internet access a fast and easy solution with ASTRA2Connect."
Joop Atsma, Chairman of the Dutch Parliamentary Commission for Agriculture comments: "For the Dutch agriculture industry, broadband internet is of vital importance. I therefore very much welcome ASTRA2Connect as an excellent, innovative solution for farmers living in rural areas.
About SES ASTRA www.ses–astra.com
SES ASTRA is the leading Direct–to–Home (DTH) satellite system in Europe. The satellite fleet currently comprises 14 ASTRA and two SIRIUS satellites. The combined satellite system delivers services to more than 117 million DTH and cable households and transmits a total of 2,433 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 more than 55 High Definition (HD) channels on its main orbital positions, ASTRA and SIRIUS represent the most important HDTV platform for Europe´s leading broadcasters. The prime orbital positions for ASTRA and SIRIUS are 19.2° East, 28.2° East, 23.5° East, 5° East and 31.5° East.
SES ASTRA is an SES company (Paris:SESG)(LuxX:SESG). SES owns three market–leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, SES AMERICOM in North America, and SES NEW SKIES which provides global coverage and connectivity. The company owns 90 percent of SES SIRIUS in Europe, as well as strategic participations in Ciel in Canada and Quetzsat in Mexico. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 39 satellites in 26 orbital positions around the globe. Additional information on SES is available at: www.ses.com
About ASTRA BROADBAND SERVICES (ABBS)
ABBS is a 100% owned subsidiary of SES ASTRA operating SES ASTRA´s new satellite broadband access ASTRA2Connect. ASTRA2Connect is marketed via wholesalers and internet service providers to the residential market. The innovative service offers a highly reliable, always–on, two–way broadband internet access for flat service fees. ASTRA2Connect offers a unique possibility for households in regions without terrestrial broadband connection to access broadband services.
Sold to end–users through domestic service providers in European countries and regions ASTRA2Connect closes the gap between the end user and the broadband technology and provides a high reliable and well performing broadband access service matching local needs.
About LTO Commerce
LTO Commerce is the sales organisation for the three LTO Nederland entities: LTO Noord, ZLTO en LLTB. These three organisations represent a total of almost 50.000 agricultural companies in the Netherlands. LTO Commerce is focussing on collective purchasing of among others energy, telephony, insurances and telecom services. For more information: www.ltocommerce.nl
