WOODSTOCK, NB – With the successful launch of a new 4G broadband satellite, 2 million rural Canadians who have been on the wrong side of the digital divide, can finally begin plugging in this fall.
Xplornet Communications says the EchoStar XVII, a Hughes 4G broadband satellite, was launched into space by the Ariane 5 rocket after blasting off from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, at 5:36 p.m. ET on Thursday.
"It's going to dramatically increase our 4G satellite footprint to many parts of the country," said Allison Lenehan, Xplornet's chief marketing officer. "Combined with the other satellite launched last year we will cover upwards of 2 million rural households, who will receive more affordable, faster broadband speeds."
Xplornet calls the satellite a “game-changer” in terms of providing ubiquitous 4G broadband access in 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.
Xplornet currently has more than 150,000 subscribers across Canada and annual revenues of more than $100-million and intends to quadruple its customer base by 2016.
“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,” said John Maduri, Xplornet's Chief Executive Officer.
Xplornet has purchased 100% of the Canadian capacity on the satellite, entirely for rural broadband use and 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" added Maduri.
