NewSat Deal With Dodo

Written by Adam Gosling

Thursday, 06 September 2007

Satellite services provider, NewSat has signed a A$30 million plus broadband Internet deal with ISP Dodo which will see up to 12,000 remote users get access to the Internet under the Broadband Guarantee scheme. The five year deal estimated contract value of A$30 million in revenues to NewSat over the first nine months alone. The new service, under the somewhat clumsy name "Dodo Satellite powered by NewSat" is scheduled to commence October this year and will deliver what the companies say will be "the lowest price and best performance benchmark ever in consumer broadband internet satellite connections for remote Australia". "Dodo Satellite powered by NewSat" will offer a range of seven connection plans, all capped, with a starting price of below $20 per month. This move is set to revolutionise the price of broadband satellite connection in the country by slicing approximately 30 percent from the current starting prices for a 256/64kbps speed connection. However, the service is still subject to funding approval. NewSat has participated in earlier government funded broadband subsidy schemes, but accepts its technology was not specifically aimed or priced at consumers and accordingly had little impact on the market. Indeed its last funding application was declined. In response NewSat has deployed "Ku Plus" technology using a satellite breakthrough technology from the US called ViaSat Surf Beam hub and ancillary technology which not only makes rapid deployment of connections possible, but enables the offering of extremely desirable price points for consumers as well as delivering enhanced quality of service. Additionally, in a further show of confidence in the outcomes of the agreement, Dodo Satellite Pty Ltd has joined the NewSat share registry as a significant stock-holder by subscribing for $500,000 of ordinary shares in NewSat Limited, as well as performance-based options. Related news items Nokia Buys Map Company For US$8 Billion -02/10/2007 Sydney Airport Network Improved For APEC -03/09/2007 Acer Elbows Into Third Place -27/08/2007 Gearing Up For iPhone? -24/08/2007 Yellow Cabs Offer New Mobile Booking Service -24/08/2007 Newer news items Vodafone Offers Generous Data Plans -28/11/2007 Jetstar BYOs The Wireless -12/11/2007 Major Players To Test WiMAX Interoperability -26/09/2007 Telstra Wireless Hits Speed Record -24/09/2007 Chilli iBurst Increases Download Limits -16/09/2007 Older news items NetComm Goes 3G With New Range -05/09/2007 Free iBurst Broadband In Sydney -16/08/2007 True WiMAX Reaches Sydney and Melbourne -31/07/2007 Next G Coverage Ahead Of Schedule -18/07/2007 Unwired Meets Funding Commitments Ensuring WiMAX Network -30/04/2007 Tag This Now: