More Wild Blue Broadband Avilable in March

Russ Steele

Aviation Week reports that Wild Bule will turn on a dedicted satellite in March 2007. Details below.

New U.S. Satellite Showcases Two-Way Broadband Market, Michael A. Taverna

WildBlue Yonder

The first dedicated commercial Ka-band broadband spacecraft will commence operation early this year, underscoring the sudden maturing of this long-awaited new satcom application.

The 4.7-metric-ton, 9.6-kw. spacecraft, WildBlue-1, was orbited on the night of Dec. 8 from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, atop an Ariane 5 ECA booster. From its perch at 111 deg. W. Long., WildBlue-1, built by Space Systems/Loral, will provide 1.5 Mbps. of data down and 256 kbps. up to rural and small town households and small businesses underserved by terrestrial telecom lines. Its 35 spot beams will reach all 48 contiguous states of the U.S.

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WildBlue claims it has already attracted 100,000 subscribers and is adding new users at a rate of 10,000 per month. Service starts at $49.95 per month and $79.95 for full data rate service, plus $7.95 per month for remote dial-up. Equipment, including 26-in. dish antenna, retails at $299 and installation costs an additional $129.95 plus tax.

Link to  Wild Blue Web site