PR/30/07
EUTELSAT BROADBAND SUBSIDIARY, SKYLOGIC, RETAINED BY SPAIN’s
SARAGOSSA REGION TO BRING BROADBAND VIA SATELLITE
TO 120 COMMUNITIES
Turin, 1 October 2007
Skylogic, the broadband affiliate of Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) has been
awarded a contract by the Diputacion Provincial de Zaragoza to bring full broadband
amenities to 120 communities in the region of Saragossa in northern Spain. Following a
public competitive tender Skylogic’s D-STAR service was selected as the satellite component
of an extensive regional broadband programme called Zaragoza Internet Provincial (ZIP).
The Zaragoza Internet Provincial programme was initiated to facilitate access to new
technologies for all municipalities in the province and to provide citizens in all communities
with free broadband access to public service amenities and on-line documentation.
Saragossa is the first region in Spain to initiate a universal broadband programme mobilising
multiple access technologies including satellite. Each Town Hall is equipped with Skylogic’s
D-STAR two-way broadband system which comprises a 96cm antenna and an indoor unit
the size of DVD player. The terminals communicate through a satellite connection on
Eutelsat's ATLANTIC BIRD™ 1 satellite to Skylogic's teleport in Turin, which has direct
access to the Internet backbone. The D-STAR terminals are also connected to Wi-Fi hot
spots in a number of villages in order to extend Internet connectivity. As part of a far-reaching
information and education campaign, a demonstration bus equipped with a D-STAR antenna,
16 PCs and trained staff also toured the province to teach basic e-mail, Internet and other
ICT skills to the local population.
Juan Antonio Sanchez Quero, Manager of New Technologies at the Diputacion Provincial de
Zaragoza commented: “A communication link is now available to thousands of people who
can benefit from Internet access for e-mails, web-surfing and government applications.
Satellite connectivity and Skylogic’s D-STAR product have enabled us to complete a
universal broadband programme without discriminating citizens located in rural
environments.”