AT&T began selling satellite-based broadband Internet access service, powered by WildBlue, to rural customers across its 13-state territory.
Rural satellite-based broadband subscribers will have three service packages to choose from, with prices ranging from $49.95 to $79.95 per month, and broadband speed options ranging up to 1.5 Mbps downstream and up to 256 Kbps upstream.
Service options will initially be available in most rural AT&T service areas in the following states: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Kansas, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Texas. Services are available today in portions of the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Additional availability in these states is expected later in 2006.
http://www.attwb.net
- WildBlue currently utilizes the Ka-band spot beam capacity over the United States on Telesat Canada’s Anik F2 satellite, which was launched by Arianespace in July 2004. WildBlue’s service provides two-way wireless high-speed Internet access. The service is being offered by over 280 rural electric and telephone companies affiliated with the NRTC (National Rural Telephone Cooperative). Service began June 2005.
- WildBlue’s next Ka-band spot beam satellite, WildBlue-1, has been scheduled for launch aboard an Ariane 5 vehicle in Q4 2006. WildBlue-1, manufactured by Space Systems/Loral, will approximately triple WildBlue’s customer capacity, and is expected to handle WildBlue’s continuing rapid customer growth into 2008 and beyond. WildBlue-1 is a 4.7 metric ton high power satellite based on Space Systems/Loral’s 1300 spacecraft bus and provides Ka-band spot beam capacity over the contiguous United States. Spot beam Ka-band satellites are a key component in WildBlue’s low-cost wireless broadband infrastructure.