Eutelsat's KA-SAT High Throughput Satellite goes into service, enchancing satellite-based IP service coverage across Europe and the Mediterranean.

It should be providing broadband-speed internet to more than 1m European households. Eutelsat says at least 13m european households are still beyond ADSL's range, while 17m are stuck with sub-broadband internet speeds of below 2Mbps.

The satellite blasted off to the atmosphere (reaching heights of around 36000km above the equator) from Baikonur, Kasakhstan on December 26 2010. Its broadcasts signals through 82 separate beams, each with a 250km footprint.

Eutelsat also offers its own customer internet service, dubbed Tooway-- delivering speeds of up to 10Mbps downstream and 4Mbps upstream as well as VoIP, IPTV and direct-to-home TV reception.

Go Eutelsat

Go Eutelsat Launches Satellite Internet Service across Europe (WSJ)