WildBlue Communications awarded a contract to Arianespace for the launch of its first Ka-band communications satellite, which is now scheduled for early 2005. — WildBlue, which will be owned by Intelsat, Liberty Media and NRTC – will provide broadband service to rural and remote areas in the United States. The satellite will be built by Space Systems/Loral in Palo Alto, California.
http://www.wildblue.com
- In December 2002, Liberty Satellite & Technology, Intelsat, National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC), Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and David Drucker, WildBlue’s chairman, agreed to invest $156 million in Wild Blue Communications. The company hopes to begin offering its services in 2004 using its license for the US Ka-band payload aboard Telesat Canada’s Anik F2 satellite, which is scheduled for launch in late 2003. Liberty Satellite, Kleiner Perkins and David Drucker are existing shareholders. Intelsat and NRTC are new investors. In addition, WildBlue’s existing strategic investors include TeleSat, EchoStar, Gemstar – TV Guide, TRW, and Arianespace.