[Satellite TODAY 03-01-13] The European SABER project has announced it will publish practical guidelines in April to help regional authorities specify, procure and fund satellite broadband solutions. The announcement follows the SABER project’s first best practice workshop on Feb. 19, which brought together satellite experts, key influencers, and representatives from 21 regional authorities across Europe.

   SABER is a project created to assist the estimated 10 million households across the European Union with limited or no access to broadband services. Led by CSI Piemonte, the project is expected to last for 24 months and involves 26 partners including Eutelsat, SES Broadband Services, Astrium, and 21 regional authorities and ICT public and private organizations representing 13 countries. 

   “Access to high speed broadband is a critical infrastructure requirement for European business growth, education and social interaction and yet 10 million EU homes are today still without access, with those in rural areas particularly suffering,” said Stefano Agnelli, director of European Institutional Affairs, at Eutelsat. “Satellite broadband is a fast and cost effective solution available today to assist those digitally deprived communities and SABER’s role is to help regional authorities to benefit from this solution and to provide advice on how to deploy it in the most effective way for their communities.”