SES, ESA announce satellite broadband comms partnership

SES has revealed details of a new agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) to support innovation in satellite broadband communications. As part of the partnership, SES affiliate SES Broadband Services will offer a range of broadband services at special conditions to industry participants in the ARTES Applications Projects led by ESA.

The ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) initiative seeks to enhance the competitiveness of the European industry by promoting the use of satellites in such applications as broadcasting, multimedia and mobile communications, data relay, search and rescue, and aviation services.

Companies participating in the ARTES Applications Programme (ARTES 3-4 and ARTES 20) can benefit from preferential rates for SES Broadband services on the Pan-European and Middle East beams of the ASTRA-3B satellite located at 23.5 degrees east, and the Sub-Saharan African beam of the ASTRA-4A satellite located at 5 degrees east.

Patrick Biewer, managing director of SES Broadband Services, comments: “We continuously foster product innovation to achieve and sustain market leadership. We are delighted to expand our cooperation with the European Space Agency to support innovation in the European satellite industry. We see this initiative as a catalyst for new ideas, facilitating the design and launch of new applications for satellite broadband in Europe, Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Amnon Ginati, head of ESA’s integrated and telecom-related applications department, adds: “ESA is very pleased about the joint initiative with SES Broadband Services to support ARTES Applications projects. The special conditions offered by an operator like SES provide an important asset in the development stages of new space based applications and services. It will help to stimulate good ideas and to build relationships right from the beginning of a project, and prepare for the launch of operational services at the project’s conclusion,”

The new agreement is valid until September 15, 2014. Interested parties can apply until December 31, 2013 via [email protected].