Aramiska launches satellite broadband

NEWS Another satellite broadband provider has announced its prices today. Numerous companies, including BTopenworld and Tiscali, have announced plans to offer satellite broadband, all using technology provided by two companies, Hughes Network Systems and Gilat Satellite Networks. While these companies use non-standard technologies, Aramiska's service uses a different technology, called DVB-RCS, which is an officially approved open standard. Aramiska is a start-up staffed with many executives from an earlier failed satellite broadband company, Kokua Communications, which made an unsuccessful attempt to sell DVB-RCS satellite terminals. However, Aramiska CEO Philippe Bodart and Kokua veteran is optimistic that the new company will succeed where its predecessor failed. He said: "We are funded by a venture capitalist, Whitney & Co, and we can buy our space capacity from any provider. Kokua was funded by a satellite provider, and tied to using their space capacity. That was just one of the flaws in their business model." Aramiska is charging £499 for installation and a range of prices from £99 per month for a 256Kbps downlink, 64Kbps uplink service - prices which are competitive in the satellite marketplace but more expensive than DSL or cable-based services.