Canadian Broadband → New Satellite Service for Canada...

Nimiq 2 Ready for Launch

Canada, get ready for your next DBS satellite.

The Nimiq 2 satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems for Telesat Canada, was shipped last week from production facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif., to Baikonur, Kazakhstan, where it will be readied for a late December launch. The flight will take place aboard a Proton booster provided by International Launch Services.

Nimiq 2, a high power Ku-Band satellite, will provide direct broadcast services across Canada from its orbital location at 91 degrees. The spacecraft features 32 active 24 Ku-Band transponders, and also has a Ka-Band payload.

Earlier this year, Telesat Canada was selected to build the uplink facility Canadian DBS provider Bell ExpressVu will use to access the Telesat Nimiq 2 satellite. The project was expected to be completed in November.

»www.skyreport.com/skyreport/

Cool but what's it got to do with Canadian broadband? I think they will still use the old satellite for their one-way internet service.

The new one is designed for the Direct PC internet access as well. From what I heard, it's more stable and will be able to offer faster speeds.

It will also provide interactive TV services to Bell ExpressVu customers. It's all good.

Yeah, the new sat has Ka-band capability which suposedly allows for higher bandwidth and lower latency between connections.

Basically, this bird will allow ExpressVu to offer 2-way internet service, as opposed to the download only service they are able to provide now. Even though it can be expensive, this will allow more rural Canadians to have broadband access.

But how much could this cost ?

Well, I haven't heard anything official about a residential internet service being available, however, they can price it anywhere they feel, being BCE and all that and I bet it will be around $80 a month.

JMTCW

Last few months, I was b*t*hing at/discussing with them about these channels that they do not have. They don't have MTV 2 or this new Chinese channel (Mandarin). I asked them when they will add these channel to their line-up, however, they're not sure. They just told me that a new Satellite will be launch and be in service in early 2003. So, I would expecting bi-directional Satellite internet service in mid-2003 (if I need it @all). However Bell, right now, doesn't seem to be looking too good at all with the internet stuff.

Can you believe what their lastest offer to me is?

»www.guaranteedsavings3.s ··· atico.ca

It's suppose to save me up to $60 (bs, its saves me about $48 MAX.) every year, and a 12-month contract must be signed. It uses the old stuff: 5GB UP & 5 GB DOWN. Also, it only includes one dynamic IP address (no easy&stable home networking anymore).

U try to figure out what their bi-directional satellite internet will cost. $45 for 1 GB?

said by lawrence171:

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U try to figure out what their bi-directional satellite internet will cost. $45 for 1 GB?

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That sounds about right.

said by lawrence171:

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Last few months, I was b*t*hing at/discussing with them about these channels that they do not have. They don't have MTV 2 or this new Chinese channel (Mandarin). I asked them when they will add these channel to their line-up, however, they're not sure.

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ExpressVu is always adding new channels, and they do listen to their customers requests. They're not going to buy the rights for one channel, just because you told them so. 2 years ago, they added CFPL from here in London, even though there is absolutely no reason to (the programming stinks, the news is even worse). They did it because enough people from Southwestern Ontario asked for it.

quote:

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They just told me that a new Satellite will be launch and be in service in early 2003. So, I would expecting bi-directional Satellite internet service in mid-2003 (if I need it @all).

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Satellite internet is not for people who live in urban areas where broadband is readily available. It's for people whose only option is dial-up. HSE is way faster and more reliable than any 2 way internet service

quote:

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Can you believe what their lastest offer to me is?

»www.guaranteedsavings3.s ··· atico.ca

It's suppose to save me up to $60 (bs, its saves me about $48 MAX.) every year, and a 12-month contract must be signed.

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Ummmm...$5/month off x 12 month contract = $60 a year savings. Don't know where your get the $48 from.

quote:

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U try to figure out what their bi-directional satellite internet will cost. $45 for 1 GB?

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Depends on if you have ExpressVu programming or not....
Here's the current pricing...
»www.direcpc.ca/en/servic ··· ans.html

One thing to notice about those price plans....

"Unlimited" plans mean no time restrictions with a 4 gig cap. "Surf-a-lot" plans are limited to 60 hours, but have no caps.

Go figure.