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DAVID CONNELL
The satellite industry's place in the broadband arena received a boost last week as two companies, PanAmSat's NET-36 and EchoStar Communications, announced strategic alliances to help solidify their spots in the marketplace. With new services rolling out regularly, it now appears satellite-delivered broadband services are here to stay.
In the latest deal, the newly formed NET-36 says it will distribute content through Excite's broadband network. Specifically, NET-36 will purchase multiple high-speed Internet connections that will link its satellite-based Internet broadcast network to multiple locations within Excite@ Home's network.
By using the NET-36 system of satellites, broadband content providers can bypass congestion and peering points on the Web, resulting in higher quality audio- and videostreaming.
"Leveraging PanAmSat's 16 years of media distribution experience and its relationship with content providers and MSOs, this partnership provides NET-36 content owners complementary distribution outlets and enables them to widen their audience reach," NET-36 president Bill Moses said in a statement. "We are enthusiastic about this relationship with Excite, as it puts us ahead of schedule in the growth of our broadband audience reach."
Earlier last week, EchoStar announced it had signed an agreement with Geocast Network Systems to deliver broadband services to PCs through EchoStar's DISH Network satellite TV service. Geocast will deliver its services to PCs using dedicated bandwidth on one of EchoStar's primary DBS satellites.
Geocast delivers personalized content to PC users and has announced several deals with broadcasters to deliver data using extra space in their digital spectrum.
This is the first deal that would give the company a national reach.
The content will be available to DISH Network subscribers who attach a GeoBox server to their computer and satellite TV system. The server contains a 40-gigabyte hard drive and will enable subscribers to receive and store high-quality audio and video.
"This agreement represents a significant milestone on our roadmap toward delivering personalized broadband services and content to PC users," says Joe Horowitz, chairman/CEO of Geocast. "EchoStar's nationwide brand recognition, all-digital video signal and nationwide distribution and installation network give Geocast the opportunity to expand our service rapidly."
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