Rocket Carrying New 4G Broadband Satellite Successfully Launched
Xplornet Vastly Expands Canadian Rural Broadband!
WOODSTOCK, NB, July 6, 2012 /CNW/ - Xplornet Communications Inc. is
pleased to announce the successful launch of EchoStar XVII, a Hughes 4G
broadband satellite that will greatly expand Xplornet's 4G footprint
across rural Canada. The satellite was launched from French Guiana at
5:36 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday July 5th, 2012 into a geosynchronous
orbit 35,888 kilometers above sea-level; high enough to get a clear
view of the vast Canadian territory it will be covering.
A game-changer in terms of ubiquitous broadband access in Canada,
EchoStar XVII will greatly expand Xplornet's 4G footprint across rural
Canada, especially in British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick and
Newfoundland. The next-generation satellite is capable of providing
Internet access to Canadians in rural and remote areas with download
speeds up to 25 Mbps, and at monthly prices similar to what urban
Canadians pay. Together with Xplornet's national 4G terrestrial
network and another recently launched 4G satellite, Xplornet will close
Canada's urban/rural digital-divide for over 2 million of the 2.4
million Canadian households located in regions where wired broadband is
unavailable.
Speaking from the launch site in French Guiana, John Maduri, Xplornet's
Chief Executive Officer said "This launch marks an historic
transformation for rural Canada. Where before there was an urban/rural
digital divide, that is now being overcome by this remarkable 4G
technology. Just as Canadians rely on satellites for coast to coast
telephone connectivity, now they can look to the skies in terms of
their digital connectivity. We are plugging rural Canada in to the
global digital economy."
Xplornet Communications Inc., Canada's leading provider of rural
broadband, has purchased 100% of the Canadian capacity on the
satellite, entirely for rural broadband use. Xplornet expects the
satellite service to be available to Canadians in the fourth quarter of
this year.
"Our investment of hundreds of millions in rural broadband
infrastructure is unprecedented. And now we can say with confidence
that we have eliminated the digital divide for 2 million Canadian
households located in regions where wired broadband is not available.
This is a momentous change for Canada" said Maduri.
About Xplornet Communications Inc.
Headquartered in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Xplornet Communications Inc.
(formerly Barrett Xplore Inc.) is Canada's leading rural broadband
provider. We believe everyone should have access to the transformative
benefits of broadband, so we make our service available everywhere in
Canada, including the hard to reach places. We overcome the challenges
of Canada's vast geography through our deployment of Canada's first
national 4G network, which leverages both fixed-wireless towers on the
ground and next-generation satellites in space. Our customers live in
the farthest reaches of the country and just outside of major urban
centres, and through our coast-to-coast network of local dealers we
connect them to all that the Internet offers. Xplornet is high-speed
Internet - for all of Canada.
Image with caption: "An Ariane-5 rocket which will carry a new 4G broadband satellite to be used by Xplornet sits on a launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana on July 4th, the evening prior to its launch. (CNW Group/Xplornet Communications Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120706_C6647_PHOTO_EN_16032.jpg
Image with caption: "An Ariane-5 rocket which will carry a new 4G broadband satellite to be used by Xplornet sits on a launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana on July 4th, the evening prior to its launch. (CNW Group/Xplornet Communications Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120706_C6647_PHOTO_EN_16034.jpg
Image with caption: "New 4G Broadband Satellite EchoStar XVII, which will be used by Xplornet to provide high-speed Internet to rural Canada, during construction and testing. (CNW Group/Xplornet Communications Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120706_C6647_PHOTO_EN_16030.jpg
Image with caption: "On July 5, 2012, an Ariane-5 rocket carrying the EchoStar XVII broadband satellite to be used by Xplornet was launched from Kourou, French Guiana. (CNW Group/Xplornet Communications Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120706_C6647_PHOTO_EN_16038.jpg
Xplornet Communications Inc.
CONTACT: Media Enquiries: please contact:
Jeff Hecker, Director, Marketing Communications and Public Relations
(905) 944-7969