Eutelsat Communications and Viasat have announced that the consumer broadband satellite service they are partnering to offer in Europe will be available from the end of September in Germany, with selected other European markets to follow before the end of the year.
Called Tooway, the new-generation service is designed for residential users, with equipment a fraction the cost of existing enterprise-focused satellite services.
As a new broadband alternative for homes with low-speed dial-up, Tooway is expected to change the price/performance paradigm for consumer satellite Internet access in rural areas across Europe.
Tooway will be provided via Ka-band capacity on Eutelsat's HOT Bird 6 satellite at 13 degrees East and will also be available via Ku-band capacity on the Eurobird 3 satellite.
The Ka and Ku-band hubs with equipment supplied by Viasat to manage Tooway are now fully commissioned and ready for service at Skylogic's Skypark teleport in Turin, Italy.