The new packages will ensure the UK’s 3.3m digitally deprived properties can instantly access, whatever their location, the benefits of high speed broadband, including applications such as film downloads, heavy file uploads and video chat that are now standard user expectations. Research shows that there are 3.3m UK premises that cannot receive broadband or receive a service of less than 2 Mbps.
The new packages, called Tooway S, M, L and XL, will be available through service providers from February 1 and will offer across the board download speeds of up to 20 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 6 Mbps (excepting entry level service), making it the fastest satellite broadband service in Europe. The service operates with a small (77cm) easy-to-install satellite dish and modem and is delivered by KA-SAT, Europe’s most powerful satellite.
To address growing demand for increased data allowances for video and multimedia services, Eutelsat is also introducing a true unlimited data service, called Tooway Absolute, for the first 20,000 customers across Europe. Customers subscribing to the L and XL service will also be entitled to uncapped data usage overnight, allowing video and large files to be downloaded without impacting daytime data allowances.
The recommended monthly retail prices for the new UK Tooway satellite broadband services start from less than £20 a month including VAT for the entry level Tooway S service, rising to just under £50 a month including VAT for the Tooway XL service, which offers a monthly data allowance of 30GB and unlimited data use overnight.
Eutelsat is also introducing for service providers a recommended monthly rental fee for the dish and modem to simplify access to Tooway.
Jean-François Fenech, General Manager of Eutelsat's Broadband Business Unit, said: “These new Tooway packages are another huge step forward in making universal high speed broadband an immediate reality for Europe. The fastest speeds and most generous data packages at the best competitive rates can be delivered in a matter of days, regardless of location. The outlook for consumers in Europe’s most digitally deprived areas just got much brighter.”
Eutelsat’s portfolio of Tooway services provides consumers and home-office workers with an always-on Internet service, which is triple-play ready with full compatibility for Direct to Home (DTH) television services and Voice over IP solutions.