SPANISH digital satellite platform Via Digital, in partnership with Telefonica’s Internet portal Terra Networks, is carrying out tests with a view to launching a high-speed Internet access service through the Hispasat DBS platform.

The service would allow customers to receive data at a speed of 2Mbit/s and send information at 56Kbit/s. The platform claims to be the first to offer such a service and has announced that it will launch Internet access through the television set later this year. A number of Internet over satellite services are already targetting the German market through the Eutelsat and Astra satellites.

Meanwhile, Via Digital has just included a new channel in its offering called Megatrix, which is targeted at children. Included in the basic package, the 24-hour channel will include series, films, sports and games. The CEO of Via Digital, Juan Ruiz de Gauna, commented: “This new channel will improve our kids offer. Megatrix is a successful children format and we are very proud to be enriching our programming with a brand like this”. For the CEO of Antena 3, Juan Jose Nieto, the channel “will strengthen the collaboration between Antena 3 and Via Digital”.