Artist rendition of the Eutelsat KONNECT VHTS satellite. Photo: Eutelsat

Hispasat has signed a capacity agreement with Eutelsat Communications to be the exclusive operator and distributor of KONNECT capacity in Spain and Portugal. This is a multi-year agreement that Hispasat said will support ubiquitous access to high-speed fixed broadband in Spain and Portugal. 

Eutelsat said in the Oct. 28 announcement that the agreement is effective immediately and represents a high-single digit million-euro annual revenue stream at full speed. It could be extended in the future for more capacity. This capacity will complement Hisapsat’s current capacity with Eutelsat. 

“Digitalization cannot be addressed without having guaranteed connectivity everywhere first. Satellite technology has evolved and permits internet access at 100 Mbps immediately from any location, no matter how inaccessible it is. At Hispasat we are fully committed to the goal of providing all citizens internet access and contributing to digitalizing economic activity regardless of geographic location,” commented Hispasat CEO Miguel Ángel Panduro. 

This deal for Eutelsat follows KONNECT satellite wholesale contracts with Orange in France and TIM in Italy for their capacity covering their respective markets. Eutelsat also recently signed a distribution agreement with Deutsche Telekom for broadband service in Germany. The company said these agreements prove that satellite can be part of cost-effective, reliable infrastructure to extend coverage beyond the reach of terrestrial networks.

Separately, Eutelsat also announced a partial renewal with Egyptian satellite operator Nilesat on Oct. 28 for Ku-band capacity at Eutelsat’s 7 degrees West position for broadcast in the Middle East.