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Eutelsat Broadband Subsidiary, Skylogic, Retained By Spain's Saragossa Region to Bring Broadband Via Satellite to 120 Communities

Posted on: Monday, 1 October 2007, 09:00 CDT

TURIN, Italy, October 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 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(TM) 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."

"We are very pleased to have won the confidence of the Diputacion Provincial de Zaragoza," commented Arduino Patacchini, Chairman of Skylogic. "By deploying satellite and terrestrial broadband technologies adapted to the location of each community, the Saragossa region is demonstrating the most efficient and cost-effective route for developing ICT skills for all citizens throughout the region."

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 24 satellites that provide coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues. At 30 June 2007, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting over 2,600 television channels and 1,100 radio stations. More than 1,000 channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East which serves over 120 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Group's satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates services through teleports in France and Italy that serve enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ 529 commercial, technical and operational experts from 27 countries.

http://www.eutelsat.com/ About Skylogic

Based in Turin, north-west Italy, Skylogic operates one of the world's leading satellite broadband IP platforms. Its operational centre, SkyPark, is equipped to offer a complete range of broadband services including content distribution, IP videostreaming, business TV, maritime applications, teleconferencing, remote control of installations, telemedicine, e-learning and Voice over IP. The teleport is connected by fibre to the Internet exchange point in Turin and uses capacity on satellites in Eutelsat's fleet in order to serve users in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa. Skylogic's customers include businesses, multinationals, government agencies and aid organisations.

http://www.skylogic.com/ For further information from Eutelsat Press Vanessa O'Connor Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88 voconnor@eutelsat.fr Frederique Gautier Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88 fgautier@eutelsat.fr Investors Gilles Janvier Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-35 investors@eutelsat-communications.com

Eutelsat Communications

CONTACT: For further information from Eutelsat: Press, VanessaO'Connor, Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88, voconnor@eutelsat.fr; Frederique Gautier,Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88, fgautier@eutelsat.fr; Investors: Gilles Janvier, Tel:+33-1-53-98-35-35, investors@eutelsat-communications.com

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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