July 6, 2006
(CED via NewsEdge) WildBlue Communications Inc. has forged exclusive, five-year wholesale distribution deals with EchoStar Communications and DirecTV.
The deal is a major one for WildBlue as it will now be able to tap into a combined DBS subscriber base of more than 27 million customers.
Initially, DirecTV and EchoStar customers will need to use a separate dish to receive the high-speed data service.
EchoStar and DirecTV expect to begin marketing WildBlue services under their own respective brands in the "coming months."
Earlier this year, WildBlue secured a similar deal with AT&T, which will market satellite broadband services in rural areas underserved by DSL and high-speed cable lines.
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