Ku-band Russia coverage for Eutelsat 36C satellite. Photo: Eutelsat

Russian Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite TV provider Tricolor TV and Eutelsat Networks have launched a two-way internet access service, with broadband consumer Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) from Gilat Satellite Networks. Launched in September 2016, the two-way satellite internet service offers consumer and professional subscribers internet access with speeds of up to 40 Mbps downstream and 12 Mbps upstream.

To connect to the service, users need to install receiving equipment, Gilat’s Gemini broadband VSAT terminal, which can be self-installed and supports automatic service activation. Later this year, No Limit Electronics, which sells and services Gilat’s residential terminal kits, is planning to offer Gilat’s Scorpio VSAT, which further simplifies self-install, maintenance and easy roof mounting.

Satellite capacity is provided by Eutelsat’s Express AMU1/Eutelsat 36C high throughput satellite, which delivers continuous coverage throughout Western Russia. The Eutelsat service is enabled by Gilat’s scalable multi-application X-Architecture for SkyEdge II-c.

“By working together with Eutelsat Networks, and with Gilat’s broadband consumer VSATs, we can offer Russian customers high-quality and affordable broadband access to the Internet,” said Alexey Karpov, Director of Sales and Subscriber Service at Tricolor TV.