[Satellite Today 04-02-09] BB Sat officially launched its satellite broadband service in Japan, the company announced April 1.
    BB Sat’s broadband service, operated with ViaSat’s SurfBeam system, will provide speeds of 2.5 megabits per second forward and 512 kilobits per second return via Ka-band capacity provided by Sky Perfect JSAT’s Superbird B2 satellite.
    The service aims to provide broadband to Japan’s rural areas and to ADSL users who, because of their distance from provisioning facilities, receive a diminishing quality of service. Customers will pay 5,000 yen ($51) monthly for BB Sat broadband plus a terminal rental fee.
    “BB Sat is a key part of the plan to make universal broadband a reality in Japan,” James Beitchman, president of BB Sat, said in a statement.