Successful Launch for Europe’s First S-band Mobile Satellite Services Payload

A satellite carrying Europe’s first S-band payload - operated by Solaris Mobile - was successfully launched at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The launch took place at 22:24 local time - 16:24 GMT, 18:24 CET - on April 3.

Since Solaris Mobile is the first company to offer a hybrid satellite and terrestrial infrastructure for European mobile services, we are determined to set the standards for mobile communication services, in terms of innovation, quality and service that will set the tone for the rest of the industry.

Steve Maine, Solaris Mobile CEO

“The success of today’s launch means Solaris Mobile is now poised to deliver a new generation of mobile services for European consumers”, said Steve Maine, Solaris Mobile CEO. “With the satellite in orbit, our work begins in earnest. Since Solaris Mobile is the first company to offer a hybrid satellite and terrestrial infrastructure for European mobile services, we are determined to set the standards for mobile communication services, in terms of innovation, quality and service that will set the tone for the rest of the industry.”

With its S-band payload, Solaris Mobile will be the first player in this brand new market to provide a unique and advanced next generation network offering seamless coverage across Europe.

Called the W2A, the satellite launched yesterday belongs to Eutelsat Communications and carries two other payloads. The S-band payload will however allow content providers to deliver a range of mobile TV, radio and other data content services for handhelds devices such as phones, PDAs, iPods and game consoles. Vehicle owners can also expect an exciting and innovative range of entertainment and location-based services to compliment their navigation systems.

Barry O’Leary, CEO IDA Ireland, congratulated Solaris Mobile on their successful launch and said “I am delighted to have been present in Paris to witness by video-link the inaugural launch of this satellite. When IDA Ireland supported Solaris Mobile in setting up their European Headquarters in Dublin in June last year, this satellite was already under construction. Solaris is the first international satellite operator to have made an investment in Ireland and is an important marketing reference for IDA’s continuing work to attract new business within the mobile, media and telecommunications sectors.  Today’s successful launch will enable others appreciate the depth of Irish talent and innovation”. He concluded “The Irish connection in this launch is a potent symbol of our standing as a leading innovation-led economy”.
 
Built by Thales Alenia Space, W2A will be fully operational at 10 degrees East around the end May, after an extensive round of in-orbit tests. The solar panels and antennas, including the state-of-the-art 12-metre S-band antenna will be fully deployed by the end of next week.

With this launch, Solaris Mobile gets a step closer to becoming Europe’s first provider of a unique powerful network offering seamless coverage across Europe. Services are due to be commercialised services by the end of 2009.

Solaris Mobile, a Eutelsat and SES Astra joint venture, was established earlier in 2008 to develop next generation mobile TV services via satellite. The company plans to provide TV, video and radio plus two-way communication to a variety of handheld and vehicle-mounted mobile devices. Solaris Mobile’s range of services, scheduled for launch in early 2009, is aimed primarily at Broadcasters, Telco operators, the Automotive industry, and Data & Communication providers.

The company intends to operate in a 2.00 GHz frequency band, the S-band, reserved for the exclusive use of satellite and terrestrial mobile services. The S-band sits alongside UMTS frequencies that are already used across Europe for 3G terrestrial services.

Please visit http://www.solarismobile.com/
 

For further information please contact:
Mary Crotty, Mary Crotty PR
mary@marycrottypr.ie / 00 353 87 2567751

Yassine Dahbi, Solaris Mobile
yassine.dahbi@solarismobile.com
00353 86 795 4800 / 0033 14 3268732