Two European companies with complementary attributes have agreed to become partners.

Tiscali, a European Internet communication company, is teaming up with Paris-based Eutelsat to offer one-way Internet capability through Eutelsat’s OPENSKY platform.

Tiscali will use one-way satellite Internet service to reach a wider audience. The company’s two-way satellite broadband Internet service focuses on business users. With the new offer, Tiscali wants to lure residential subscribers based in areas not covered by broadband DSL or cable networks.

In Europe, at least 50 per cent of the territory and 25 per cent of the overall population are out of reach of terrestrial broadband networks, Eutelsat officials said.

The rollout of Tiscali’s satellite Internet offer is scheduled to occur in the upcoming weeks in the 15 countries where the Tiscali network operates.

“This agreement is a big step forward for affordable and ubiquitously available broadband services for the European consumer market,” said Eutelsat CEO Giuliano Berretta. A marriage between Eutelsat’s OPENSKY technology and Tiscali’s existing market presence in Europe will help to serve millions of homes beyond the reach of terrestrial broadband access, he added.

With European-wide satellite coverage, Eutelsat will enable Tiscali to offer a “seamless service” for all users, regardless of their locations, officials of both companies said.

Satellite services are a “big opportunity” to provide fast Internet connections easily and at low rates for areas where traditional broadband services are not available, said Renato Soru, Tiscali’s chairman and CEO.

–Paul Dykewicz

(Vanessa O’Connor, Eutelsat, 33 1 53 98 47 57)