[Satellite Today 07-11-08] Eutelsat is to play a key role in reducing the digital divide in the Piedmont region of Italy, the company said July 10.
    Under a memorandum of understanding signed with regional authorities, Eutelsat’s satellite technology will be used to accelerate the availability of digital services for all of Piedmont’s citizens. The region in northern Italy has a population of around 4.4 million people and will include Eutelsat’s technology as a complement to ADSL and terrestrial wireless technologies.
    “Broadband access today represents an essential tool for ensuring competitiveness of a region and delivering quality of life for citizens,” Andrea Bairati, member responsible for the innovation policy of the Piedmont Region, said in a statement. “Satellite technology will enable us to achieve our objective of full regional coverage by resolving the challenge of extending broadband infrastructure to areas with sparse population density and to more remote locations.”
    The agreement also includes the objective to collaborate on developing digital terrestrial television and its reach throughout the region via satellite.