The operators of medium and large cable networks can provide their customers with high speed Internet access through the soon to be launched SatXpress. The Cologne-based company vsatnet.com is offering an ADSL-class service with forward channel bandwith of 6Mbit/s and a return channel with speeds of up to 384Kbit/s. Both return and forward channel are satellite-based.

SatXpress, launching in mid-June, will use Eutelsat’s Sesat (36 degrees East) that was brought into service on June 8.

The contract for the satellite capacity was signed last week during the media conference Medienforum NRW in Cologne between vsatnet.com and Dutch Eutelsat signatory KPN. Its capacity will allow SatXpress to cover the whole of Europe as well as neighbouring Africa and Asia.

The service can provide cable networks with fast Internet access between a few hunderd and many thousand customers, the only precondition being the presence of a cable return channel. SatXpress is also targetting regional Internet service providers and large corporate networks.

GMD, based in St. Augustin and a sister company of vsatnet is offering a three-month all-inclusive trial to German cable operators for a fixed fee of DM 13,500. The package includes the reception and transmission devices and Internet access for up to 200 customers.