Laurel, Md.-based Cidera Inc. (formerly SkyCache Inc.) an Internet backbone, announced last week that Telenor, Norway’s leading telecom, has reached an agreement to use Cidera’s satellite-delivered Usenet News service.

The deal will allow Telenor’s Internet Business Unit, Nextra, to receive reliable, efficient delivery of more than 100 gigabytes of Usenet News each day to its Internet subscribers in Norway, Germany, Italy, and other locations across Europe. Cidera’s multicast satellite delivery will allow Nextra to free up bandwidth within its network and provide new services for a fraction of the cost of land-based bandwidth.

Cidera Usenet News Service delivers more than 12 megabits of news each second via broadcast, potentially saving Nextra significant bandwidth. Because of Cidera’s multicast delivery capabilities, it is possible for Cidera to provide service at a cost well below that of terrestrial bandwidth costs, company officials said.

Cidera will broadcast Usenet traffic to satellite dishes installed at points of presence (POPs) along Nextra’s backbone. This method not only saves bandwidth, but lets Nextra’s customers enjoy a better Internet experience, Cidera officials said.