SES Broadband

SES Broadband originated as ASTRA2Connect, a satellite broadband initiative developed within the SES group to address the persistent gap between urban broadband availability and connectivity in rural or otherwise underserved areas. The service launched in March 2007 and was operated by ASTRA Broadband Services, later renamed SES Broadband Services. Germany was identified as the first national market to receive the service, with Filiago serving as an early German internet-service-provider partner. In the United Kingdom, BeyonDSL was an early provider. The proposition differed from conventional satellite television because it supported two-way IP communication. A customer terminal both received data from the satellite and transmitted return traffic through a small outdoor transmitter, eliminating the need for a telephone line or a separate terrestrial backhaul connection. SES supplied satellite capacity, teleport and uplink services, the DVB/IP platform, internet-backbone connectivity, subscriber activation and monitoring, and technical support. Local provider partners generally handled marketing, sales, installation, billing, and customer helpdesk operations. The underlying technology was based on Newtec's Sat3Play platform, developed in cooperation with the European Space Agency. A central hub connected to the internet backbone and transmitted IP traffic through a DVB-S2 satellite carrier. Remote terminals used an interactive low-noise block and an indoor IP modem to receive and transmit traffic. For the return path, the system combined Satmode modulation and coding with DVB-RCS access methods and time-division multiplexing across multiple frequencies. The documented Astra 3B configuration used the satellite's Ku-band capacity at the 23.5-degree-east orbital position. During its development, SES Broadband expanded beyond basic residential access. The service was offered for homes in rural locations, temporary sites, and businesses requiring connectivity where terrestrial infrastructure was unavailable. It could support voice over IP, IPTV, and content-on-demand, allowing providers to assemble dual-play and triple-play packages. In 2008, an equipment upgrade enabled the satellite broadband dish to be used alongside a conventional satellite television installation, including reception from Astra positions used for European television distribution. The service also had an industrial role. Because the satellite path was independent of local terrestrial communications infrastructure, it could connect remote sites used for electricity generation, water management, oil and gas, refining, automated manufacturing, and transport. These deployments could support SCADA monitoring and control, with always-on connectivity and, where required, guaranteed or symmetrical bandwidth. In September 2009, SES launched a maritime version. SES Broadband for Maritime targeted pleasure craft, fishing and coastal vessels, ferries, smaller cargo ships, and users on European inland waterways. Unlike the standard fixed land terminal, the maritime system used an approximately 85-centimetre antenna with automatic tracking, enclosed in a protective radome so the satellite link could be maintained while a vessel was moving. It offered web access, email, voice over IP, and related services through a fixed monthly subscription model supplied by maritime service partners. The service was renamed SES Broadband in March 2012, reflecting the rebranding of the parent company from the ASTRA-associated product identity to the SES corporate identity. Public reference material documents the service's historical technology, applications, partnerships, and product evolution, but does not provide enough current information to confirm whether the brand remains commercially active today. Its status is therefore recorded as unknown.

• 2012

  Brand renamed SES Broadband

  [1]SES Broadbanden.wikipedia.org

  ASTRA2Connect was renamed SES Broadband, while ASTRA Broadband Services became SES Broadband Services, aligning the service with SES's corporate brand.

• 2009

  Maritime service launches

  [1]SES Broadbanden.wikipedia.org

  SES Broadband for Maritime was introduced in September for vessels operating in European coastal waters and inland waterways.

• 2008

  Satellite television reception upgrade introduced

  [1]SES Broadbanden.wikipedia.org

  An equipment upgrade allowed a SES Broadband dish to be used for both broadband connectivity and conventional satellite television reception from selected Astra orbital positions.

• 2007

  ASTRA2Connect launches

  [1]SES Broadbanden.wikipedia.org

  SES launched the two-way ASTRA2Connect satellite broadband service in March, initially targeting European homes and businesses outside the reach of terrestrial broadband.

Always-on, geographically flexible broadband connectivity for rural, remote, temporary, industrial, and maritime locations outside the reach of terrestrial networks.

• Satellite broadband internet · 2007

  SES Broadband

  The core two-way satellite internet service, formerly called ASTRA2Connect, provided always-on IP connectivity to residential and business users in locations without reliable fixed-line, cable, or terrestrial wireless broadband. Depending on the local provider and package, the service could also support voice over IP, IPTV, and content-on-demand. The documented service configuration used Astra 3B at 23.5 degrees east and offered speeds reported up to 10 Mbit/s downstream and 256 kbit/s upstream.

• Maritime satellite broadband · 2009

  SES Broadband for Maritime

  A maritime adaptation introduced for pleasure craft, fishing and coastal vessels, ferries, smaller cargo ships, and inland-waterway users. It used the same general satellite modem concept as the land service but paired it with an approximately 85-centimetre automatically tracking antenna protected by a radome. The terminal was designed to preserve two-way connectivity while a vessel was under way and supported web browsing, email, and voice over IP.

• Industrial satellite communications

  Industrial and SCADA connectivity

  SES Broadband could be deployed as an independent communications path for remote industrial facilities and SCADA systems. Documented application areas included power generation, water management, refining, oil and gas, automated manufacturing, and transportation. The satellite connection was intended to provide dependable IP access, remote monitoring, and, where required, guaranteed or symmetrical bandwidth without dependence on local terrestrial networks.

• 2009SES Broadband for Maritime launch

  North Sea · Baltic Sea · Northern Mediterranean · European inland waterways

  SES promoted a moving-vessel version of its satellite broadband proposition for recreational, fishing, coastal, ferry, and smaller commercial shipping users.

  Outcome. The maritime offering extended the brand from fixed and transportable sites to vessels requiring connectivity while under way. No campaign performance figures are provided in the reference material.

  Source
• 2007ASTRA2Connect European rollout

  Germany · United Kingdom · Europe

  The initial commercial rollout positioned ASTRA2Connect as a solution for European households and businesses that could not obtain conventional broadband. SES used regional internet-service-provider partnerships, with providers responsible for local sales, installation, billing, and customer support.

  Outcome. The service expanded through partnerships in multiple European countries, although the available reference material does not quantify subscriber numbers or financial results.

  Source

• 2012

  Rebrand ASTRA2Connect as SES BroadbandStrategy

  Background

  The ASTRA2Connect name was associated with an earlier product and operating-company identity, while SES was consolidating its corporate branding.

  Action taken

  SES changed the service name to SES Broadband and renamed ASTRA Broadband Services as SES Broadband Services.

  Aftermath

  The service was presented under the parent company's SES identity. The available sources do not document subsequent commercial performance or the current status of the brand.

  Source

• 2009

  Launch SES Broadband for MaritimeProduct launch

  Background

  Vessels and inland-waterway craft needed connectivity in areas where terrestrial broadband was unavailable and required an antenna capable of tracking a satellite during movement.

  Action taken

  SES introduced a maritime service using an automatically tracking 85-centimetre antenna enclosed in a protective radome.

  Aftermath

  The offering extended the service to European maritime users and supported web access, email, and voice over IP through a fixed monthly subscription model.

  Source

• 2008

  Enable combined broadband and satellite television receptionProduct launch

  Background

  Users already installing a satellite dish could benefit from a shared installation for broadband and television, reducing the need for separate outdoor equipment.

  Action taken

  SES introduced a dish upgrade using a replacement clamp, an additional television LNB, and filtering intended to suppress interference from the broadband transmitter.

  Aftermath

  The service could support broadband connectivity alongside reception from Astra television positions at 19.2 degrees east or 28.2 degrees east.

  Source

• 2012

  ASTRA2Connect rebranded as SES Broadband[1]SES Broadbanden.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The service adopted the SES Broadband name in March 2012 as part of the parent company's wider corporate rebranding. The operating company was renamed SES Broadband Services.

• 2009

  SES Broadband for Maritime introduced[1]SES Broadbanden.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  SES extended the satellite broadband proposition to vessels operating in European seas and inland waterways, using an automatically tracking marine terminal.

• 2007

  ASTRA2Connect satellite broadband service launched in Europe[1]SES Broadbanden.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  SES introduced the two-way satellite broadband service in March 2007, initially under the ASTRA2Connect name, to serve European households and businesses beyond the reach of terrestrial broadband.

1. 1SES Broadbanden.wikipedia.org