SES ASTRA has announced that it has added another distribution partner to market its satellite broadband service ASTRA2Connect in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. With Novacomm, ASTRA2Connect now counts 23 distribution partners in 21 countries across Europe.

ASTRA2Connect is an interactive broadband internet access that is offered via distribution partners to end customers and businesses in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The service is independent from any terrestrial networks and immediately available anywhere within the footprint of the satellite. To date, ASTRA2Connect has more than 65,000 end-users in Europe, thereby representing the largest satellite-based broadband network on the continent.

Novacomm, a Russian internet service provider with a subsidiary in Ukraine, will use the service to expand its business outside Russia and develop important economic and social projects such as broadband connections for schools and transportation systems as well as for business and end customers who have no access to terrestrial broadband networks.

"Ukraine is a promising market for satellite services, both for broadcast and broadband. We are very delighted that we have signed this agreement with Novacomm which represents an important step for the roll-out of our product in Eastern Europe," said Norbert Holzle, Chief Commercial Officer at SES ASTRA.

"There is still a large number of companies based outside the Ukrainian major cities which have no or limited access to the internet. With ASTRA2Connect we have found an ideal solution to provide businesses in rural regions with a reliable broadband connection," said Nikolay Marakhovskiy, General Director at Novacomm. For further information please contact: