( BW)(SES-ASTRA)(SESG.FK)(SESG.LU) LA POSTE Underscores its Confidence
in SES ASTRA and SATLYNX With a New Order for Interactive Kiosks
Business Editors/High-Tech Writers
BETZDORF, Luxembourg--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 2, 2003--As part of
its plan to extend public access to broadband services, LA POSTE of
France underscores its confidence in SES ASTRA, Europe's premier
satellite operator for direct-to-home reception, and SATLYNX, the
provider of two-way broadband satellite services, by extending the
"Cyberkiosque" interactive information network. "Cyberkiosque" offers
access to interactive broadband satellite services based upon the
European DVB-RCS standard.
Cyberkiosque consists of interactive terminals installed in public
areas such as post offices and townhalls and makes a wide range of
web-based services available to the general public. This network of
public information centres can be easily and rapidly expanded across
the whole of France.
Free broadband Internet access goes a long way to bridging the
digital divide
The new technology enables administrations and local authorities
to use Cyberkiosque interactive terminals that are fully operational
from day one. Each Cyberkiosque connects to the Internet by means of
an interactive satellite terminal, which itself is linked to the ASTRA
satellite network. Via a touch screen interface, users can access
public services, multimedia tools and the interactive services
provided by LA POSTE free of charge. LA POSTE is thus making a direct
contribution to bridging the digital divide that affects notably rural
areas. In doing so, it is pursuing the objectives of the French
Government as decided at the CIDAT, the "Interministerial Committee
for National Planning", in September 2003.
A solution that can be deployed immediately throughout the whole
of France
As the footprint of the ASTRA satellites covers the entire
territory of France, the system can be deployed cheaply and quickly
across the entire country, using small, bi-directional parabolic
antennas. This state-of-the-art interactive technology enables anybody
to access broadband websurfing, video-conferencing and e-mail, whilst
maintaining the strict confidentiality of communications.
Administrations to become much more accessible to the public
Cyberkiosque provides immediate answers to important issues of
everyday life. With the interactive kiosks being installed in public
areas, users can access these easily close to their homes.
"Cyberkiosque first and foremost provides a bouquet of essential
services that make it much simpler for the public to carry out
administrative procedures and formalities on-line. For example they
get direct access to "public" websites of their choice while
comprehensive lists of topics (local life, SOS, family, health,
education, housing, money, taxation, transport, jobs) provide for easy
on-line navigation. This makes the new interactive kiosks much easier
to operate for novice Internet users. All of this is possible thanks
to a reliable and state-of-the-art satellite access system that is
backed by professional partners", explains Nathalie Andrieux, Director
of E-Services Innovation and Development at LA POSTE.
"SES ASTRA is very pleased to continue to support a client as
prestigious as LA POSTE in developing state-of-the-art technology such
as two-way satellite communications. Broadband satellite services
guarantee that a high-speed service will always be at hand,
particularly in regions that are poorly served or not at all served by
terrestrial networks. The fact that we have managed to combine the
obvious benefits of satellite technology with Cyberkiosque interactive
kiosks that are open to the general public, provides a very attractive
proposition to potentially hundreds of thousands of consumers,"
declares Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA.
"The agreement with LA POSTE, which is recognised for the
excellent quality of the services it provides to the public, enables
interactive satellite technology to be rolled out very quickly across
France at competitive rates. The Cyberkiosque interactive kiosks are a
first both for France and for Europe and open up new avenues in the
development of two-way broadband technologies using the European
DVB-RCS standard. This is an essential technological tool for
developing interactive communications markets across Europe and one
that will enable us to bridge the digital divide," comments Paul
Heinerscheid, President and CEO of SATLYNX S.A.
About Cyberkiosque
Simple to use, Cyberkiosque is an interactive kiosk that is
operated by means of a touch screen interface that allows users to
access dedicated services that are available now or will be available
in the future, such as: finding out refuse collection dates or the
charges for school meals, checking personal bank accounts, checking on
health insurance entitlements, updating the "Vitale" medical insurance
card directly via the kiosk or even recharging one's electronic purse,
in addition to accessing the Internet free of charge of course.
For the general public "Cyberkiosque" puts the latest satellite
technologies only a finger tip away:
- a range of interactive kiosks adapted to suit different
locations
- video-conferencing
- direct access to personal e-mail
- broadband internet access
- confidential communications facilities
- access for people with special needs
About SES ASTRA www.ses-astra.com
The ASTRA Satellite System is Europe's leading Direct-to-Home
satellite system chosen by a wide range of television and radio
broadcasters and multimedia service providers for the delivery of
free-to-air and pay broadcast and broadband services to more than 92
million Direct-to-Home and cable households in Europe. The ASTRA
satellite fleet currently comprises 13 satellites, transmitting more
than 1100 analogue and digital television and radio channels as well
as multimedia and Internet services. ASTRA's two prime orbital
positions for DTH (Direct-To-Home) services are 19.2 degrees East and
28.2 degrees East. Professional services like SNG (Satellite News
Gathering), Occasional Use and Direct to Cable (DTC) are offered from
the orbital positions of 23.5 degrees/24.2 degrees East and 5.2
degrees East.
SES ASTRA is wholly owned by SES GLOBAL, a publicly quoted company
with securities listed on the Stock Exchanges in Luxembourg and
Frankfurt (SESG). SES GLOBAL wholly owns two operating companies, SES
AMERICOM and SES ASTRA, and has strategic holdings in other leading
regional satellite service providers around the world - AsiaSat, NSAB,
Nahuelsat and Star One. Through these SES GLOBAL can provide
outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 41
satellites across the globe. Additional info at: www.ses-global.com
About SATLYNX
SATLYNX is a joint venture owned by SES GLOBAL, Gilat Satellite
Networks and Alcatel Space, with headquarters in Luxembourg. SATLYNX
has created an unrivalled portfolio of reliable and cost-effective
two-way broadband service solutions for a wide range of applications,
with pan-European European coverage. Customers being served by
SATLYNX' network include France Telecom, LA POSTE (France), BT
Openworld (UK), TISCALI (Italy), ESSO (Europe) and NeoSky (Spain)
among others.
Additional information about SATLYNX can be found at
www.satlynx.com
--30--AC/lo*
CONTACT: Yves Feltes
Press Relations SES ASTRA
Tel. +352 710 725 311
Yves.Feltes@ses-astra.com
www.ses-astra.com
or
Philippe Boissat
Director France
Tel : +33 1 58 56 73 00
philippe.boissat@satlynx.com
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