News
U.S. SATELLITE GIANT COMPLETES INVESTMENT IN AUSTRALIAN BROADBAND PROVIDER
23 March 2009
A revolution in broadband for the bush has moved a step closer with U.S. space and communications company Loral announcing its investment in Australian broadband company KaComm Communications Pty Ltd.
Loral, one of the world's largest satellite manufacturers and service providers, is now a significant equity partner in KaComm, which has been established to provide substantial bandwidth capacity across the Australian continent with particular emphasis on underserved users.
KaComm chairman, Dr Gregory J. Clark, said Loral's leadership in satellite manufacturing and service provision will be critical to achieving KaComm's quest to become a major provider of broadband services to regional and rural Australia.
"KaComm is partnering with Loral in the construction and deployment of a next generation satellite system capable of providing significantly greater bandwidth, delivering speeds of at least 12 megabits per second to the most remote locations in Australia," Dr. Clark said.
"This satellite network will revolutionise broadband services for remote Australians and will eliminate the 'digital divide,' ensuring equitable broadband services for all Australians," he said
Dr. Clark said KaComm has been working with Loral for nearly three years, and today's announcement has provided even greater impetus to the project.
Ends.... 23 March 2009
For further information contact:
Geoff Leach — 0411 450 035
Dr Gregory Clark — 0419 611 125
KaComm Communications Pty Ltd is an Australian company developing a nation-wide, satellite broadband service. It will specifically serve regional, rural and remote areas but will also complement proposed terrestrial broadband by addressing any 'black-spots' or underserved areas within the terrestrial broadband coverage.
Loral Space & Communications is a satellite communications company. It is a world-class leader in the design and manufacture of satellites and satellite systems for commercial and government applications including direct-to-home television, broadband communications, wireless telephony, weather monitoring and air traffic management. Loral also owns 64 percent of Telesat Canada, a global operator of telecommunications and direct broadcast satellites used to distribute video entertainment programming, broadband data, and provide access to Internet services and other value-added communications services. For more information, visit Loral's web site at www.loral.com.