SES ASTRA (ASTRA2Connect), which claims to be the leading provider of Satellite services in Europe and is also used by several UK ISPs, has signed a new agreement with Newtec that will allow the operator to rollout a new generation of Ka-band kit offering download speeds of up to 10Mbps (ASTRA currently offers a max of 6Mbps via its Ku-band hardware).

The new kit, which includes the latest Ka-band Sat3Play terminals, Point&Play self-installation capability and related hub infrastructure, should provide customers with an "easy and low cost migration path from Ku-band to Ka-band" services.

SES also aims to further increase the performance of its ASTRA2Connect service by using additional multiple spot beam Ka-band capacity onboard its ASTRA 2F, 2E and 2G spacecraft, which will be launched between 2012 and 2014 and located at 28.2 Degrees East.


ISPreview.co.uk understands that the technology could in the future deliver download speeds of up to 20Mbps, which would provide some strong competition for Eutelsat and Avanti UK; both have already launched up to 10Mbps capable satellites of their own.

It's worth pointing out that BeyonDSL, an ASTRA based Satellite ISP in the UK, has already revealed how they intend to use the new services (here). The ASTRA2Connect service currently serves over 80,000 end users across Europe.