Solaris Mobile ready to take Europe into a new age of mobile services

Solaris Mobile submits a comprehensive S-Band spectrum application for harmonised EU mobile services to the European Commission

DUBLIN — Solaris Mobile, a Eutelsat (Paris: ETL) and SES ASTRA (Paris, Luxembourg: SESG) joint venture, has announced today that the company has submitted to the European Commission a comprehensive application in response to the Commission’s call for applications for pan-European systems providing mobile satellite services.

Solaris Mobile’s application was submitted as part of a tender process that was initiated and co-ordinated by the European Commission. The successful applicant(s) will be able to provide innovative mobile services, such as mobile TV reception, high-speed data transfers, public safety, disaster recovery and remote medical communications via satellite, anywhere within the 27 Member States of the European Union. In addition, operators may deploy complementary terrestrial networks where necessary.

Steve Maine, Solaris Mobile CEO, said of the company’s application: “We are excited to be submitting our application today in what promises to be a landmark development for European mobile communications. This timing complements our investments, with our commitment in 2006 to procure a satellite payload from Thales Alenia Space in France. Solaris Mobile will be in the unique position of being able to offer mobile satellite services as early as 2009, empowering state-of-the-art mobile networks and enabling innovative services to consumers across Europe, well ahead of the Commission’s deadline of 2011. We look forward to continue working with European consumers, regulators, network operators, equipment and solutions vendors, car manufacturers, content and service providers, to make this vision become a reality within the next twelve months.”