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May 15, 2009

Yesterday, the European Union selected communications providers Inmarsat Ventures and Solaris Mobile to beam high-speed Internet services from satellites to some remote parts of Europe.

The two service providers should have mobile satellite up and running by May 2011 at the latest, said the European Commission.

Inmarsat Ventures and Solaris Mobile have promised to cover at least 60 percent of European Union territory which the EU says could boost Web access in rural areas, remote islands and highlands that currently have little or no access or end up paying more because operator options are very limited.

The two satellite service operators will have the exclusive right to use radio frequencies to beam wireless Internet, mobile television and radio or emergency communications to people using mobile phones or computers that can't connect to existing networks.

Solaris is jointly owned by Luxembourg-based SES Astra and France's Eutelsat Communications, which also plan to beam services to mobile phones and cars.

For its part, Inmarsat built its reputation by providing satellite phone service for ships and vessels operating in Europe.

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Source: The EU.