An artistic rendering of Hispasat’s 36W-1 satellite. Photo Credit: ESA

Hispasat and telecommunications services provider Eurona have launched a satellite-based broadband service in the Canary Islands archipelago. The digital inclusion project was presented earlier this year and is designed to bring broadband to previously underserved localities in Spain. The partners said some 373,000 people in white areas of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife will be able to access the internet at speeds of up to 30Mbps at a price of €39.90 ($47 USD) a month for a convergent package.

Eurona will provide the service after agreeing to pay around €100 million ($118 million) for 15 years of access to the Ka-band capacity of Hispasat’s 36W-1 and 30W-6 satellites. According to Eurona, users in localities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants and no fixed broadband access can apply for up to €400 ($472) in government aid to activate a 30Mbps-plus connection.