Posted: 5/2/07
Northland Connect triples broadband capacity
 WildBlue successfully launched its new Ka-band spot beam satellite, WildBlue-1, shown at left, at Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. This launch tripled capacity and availability of affordable broadband satellite internet access to small towns and rural areas. |
East Central Energy (ECE), through its subsidiary Northland Connect Broadband, announced that WildBlue has successfully launched its new Ka-band spot beam satellite, WildBlue-1 at Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. This launch tripled capacity and availability of affordable broadband satellite internet access to small towns and rural areas.
Northland Connect Broadband, a limited liability corporation owned by ECE and three other rural electric cooperatives -- Arrowhead Electric Cooperative, Lutsen, Lake Country Power, Grand Rapids, and North Itasca Electric Cooperative, Bigfork, -- has experienced tremendous growth since launching commercially in 2005. With WildBlue's first satellite AnikaF1, Northland Connect provided broadband satellite internet service to more than 2,500 members of the four co-ops.
"With WildBlue-1, Northland Connect Broadband will continue to provide broadband access that is affordable and serve residents in the most rural parts of our communities," according to Ken Howe, president, Northland Connect. "Northland Connect will allow local businesses to operate more efficiently, increase educational opportunities and enhance the quality of life for rural customers. We are pleased to once again be able to add more satellite-delivered broadband service in the communities we call home."
With new capacity added by the new satellite, Northland Connect will resume installing new high speed systems. WildBlue from Northland Connect offers access speeds up to 30 times faster than dial-up and makes high speed available to virtually anyone in the four cooperative service areas.
©ECM Post Review
6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com