[Satellite TODAY 06-03-11] Eutelsat Communications has activated the long-awaited broadband services on its Ka-Sat high-throughput satellite, the company announced June 2.

Launched in December 2010, the EADS Astrium-built spot beam satellite aims to deliver speeds of up to 10Mbps to at least 13 million European households that are unable to connect to ADSL terrestrial services via Eutelsat’s Skylogic affiliate, Tooway.

            Eutelsat CEO Michel de Rosen said Ka-Sat’s entry into service, “turns a new page in affordable and immediately available IP solutions, and places Europe at the forefront of high-capacity satellite technologies that can serve to quickly close the broadband gap.”