Europe Star to provide internet backbone

DECEMBER 7: London-Based Europe Star Ltd is targeting governments, corporates and internet service providers ISPs for its two geostation...

DECEMBER 7: London-Based Europe Star Ltd is targeting governments, corporates and internet service providers ISPs for its two geostationary, all Ku-band satellites which can be used to provide distance education, internet access, and fast data transmission. The services will be launched from August next year after the launch of satellites in July next year.

In a news conference, Europe Star Country Manager India and SAARC Ravi Sharma said Europe Star8217;s satellites could be used by the governments to connect small and inaccessible villges in the far-flung places to provide distance education with teachers as facilitators. The same satellite could be used to connect villages with rural telephones. 8220;There is no need to set up a separate fibre optic cables to connect each and every city, towns or villages in India. These satellites can be used as internet backbone within the country and to connect to Europe, Far East and Southern Africa,8221; he said. For the US markets, Europe Star has tied up with other satellite services companies.

Europe Star will scout for alliances in India to distribute its services in the country. 8220;We will form partnerships with Indian entities for ground segment operations as well as for other distributing distance education, internet and intranet services,8221;he said.

Europe Star is a 51:49 joint venture between Alcatel Spacecom of France and Loral Space amp; Communications Ltd of the US. Europe Star will carry 30 transponders with 8 focused on India. The fixed-satellite serviecs provided by Europe Star will enable India and the region to develop its internal communications infrastructure as well as reaching out to Indian communities throughout Europe Star8217;s additional coverage areas.

The company has opened its liaison office in New Delhi and claims Europe Star will provide India with one-stop gateway access to the rest of the world through Europe Star8217;s membership in the local global alliance.

With an investment of 450 million, the satellite will connect India with rest of the world with powerfull beams focused only for India. 8220;We hope that both federal and state govrenments will make use of the Ku-band satellites to provide the necessary infrastructure to its people8230; our system will bridge the gap in local infrastructureand procide assistance in meeting the requirements of priority sectors, such as education, internet and intranet,8221; Sharma said.