WildBlue 1 goes into service

[Analoguesat]

Denver, Colorado — WildBlue announced that it began offering high-speed Internet via satellite service through its new satellite, WildBlue-1, earlier today. WildBlue provides broadband Internet access via satellite to homes and small businesses not currently served, or underserved, by other high-speed providers. WildBlue launched commercial service via the Anik F2 satellite in June of 2005, and currently has over 130,000 customers nationwide.

WildBlue-1 will allow WildBlue to more than triple its customer capacity, making high-speed Internet service available to more than 750,000 rural consumers throughout the continental United States. WildBlue expects that the additional capacity accessible on WildBlue-1 will be available to all areas of the contiguous United States by the second quarter of 2007. WildBlue will also continue to utilize its capacity on Anik F2, alongside WildBlue-1.

"The launch of WildBlue-1 went extremely well, and we are now utilizing the additional capacity that this new satellite provides," said David Leonard, WildBlue’s CEO. "WildBlue is eager to offer WildBlue’s high-speed Internet service to those rural consumers across the United States who have been waiting for an affordable alternative to dial-up."

WildBlue offers fast, reliable Internet service in three service packages to consumers and small businesses across the contiguous U.S. for as little as $49.95 per month. WildBlue features download speeds of up to 1.5Mbps, competitive with other high-speed services available in the market today. All packages include Internet Service Provider (ISP) services such as e-mail and Web space, the WildBlue Portal (featuring the latest news, information and entertainment), customer care, and an equipment warranty. WildBlue‘s equipment is available for $299 and certified professional installation is free.

To celebrate this service expansion, new WildBlue customers will receive one month of any service package free of charge in March and April.

An always-on broadband Internet connection, WildBlue’s service offers access speeds that are up to thirty times faster than dial-up. WildBlue's two-way broadband service provides high-speed data in both directions, upstream and downstream. Customers do not need an additional phone or cable line in order to receive broadband Internet service from WildBlue.


WildBlue press release.

WB-1 was launched Dec 8th 2006 on an Ariane 5 from Kourou