WildBlue. High-speed Internet, Out of the Blue.

WildBlue Press Release

WildBlue Announces Successful Launch of Wildblue-1 at 5:08 PM EST
12/08/2006

Satellite Will More Than Triple WildBlue?s Customer Capacity for High Speed Internet Service via Satellite

Denver, Colorado ? WildBlue Communications announced that its Ka-band spot beam satellite, WildBlue-1 was successfully launched this evening at 5:08p.m. EST from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.  WildBlue provides high-speed Internet connectivity via satellite to homes and small businesses in communities where terrestrial broadband access is either limited or unavailable. MEDIA NOTE:  This release will also be distributed in multimedia form via PR Newswire shortly -- including links to video footage of the actual launch of flight 174 and additional satellite animation imagery and photos.

 

WildBlue-1 was successfully launched into orbit aboard Arianespace?s Ariane 5 vehicle (Flight 174).  WildBlue-1 will be put into operational service at the 111.1° West longitude orbital location.

 

?We are pleased to announce the successful launch of our new satellite,? said David Leonard, Chief Executive Officer of WildBlue.  ?WildBlue has experienced tremendous growth since launching commercially in June of 2005, and with WildBlue-1, we will soon be able to make WildBlue service available to more than 750,000 rural consumers.?

 

WildBlue-1, manufactured by Space Systems/Loral, is expected to handle WildBlue?s continuing rapid customer growth into 2008 and beyond.   WildBlue launched service in the 3rd Quarter of 2005 and currently serves more than 100,000 customers nationwide with its initial satellite capacity aboard Telesat Canada?s Anik F2 satellite.  WildBlue will continue serving customers on the Anik F2 satellite, adding new customers to WildBlue-1 once the satellite is fully operational (expected by March 2007).

 

WildBlue-1 is a 4.7 metric ton (at launch) high power satellite based on Space Systems/Loral?s 1300 spacecraft bus and provides Ka-band spot beam capacity over the contiguous United States.  Spot beam Ka-band satellites are a key component in WildBlue?s low-cost wireless broadband infrastructure.  WildBlue also utilizes the Ka-band spot beam capacity over the United States on Telesat Canada?s Anik F2 satellite (as mentioned above), which was launched by Arianespace in July 2004.

 

An always-on broadband Internet connection, WildBlue?s service offers access speeds up to 30 times faster than dial-up.  WildBlue's two-way satellite service provides wireless high-speed data in both upstream and downstream directions.  Customers do not need a phone or cable line in order to receive broadband Internet access.  Customers should call 1-866-WILDBLUE or visit their local WildBlue dealer to get service.

About WildBlue
WildBlue Communications, Inc. was established to provide broadband access to consumers and small offices in rural areas and small cities. WildBlue Communication's high-speed satellite broadband service is easy to use, reliable, always on, and significantly faster than standard dial-up service.  It opens up a window to a world of rich content that is largely unavailable through dial-up service and is accessible in areas traditionally unserved by cable modem or DSL service. Service is available in the continental United States. For more information visit www.wildblue.com. 

Media Contact Information

Paulsen PR + Marketing
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605-336-1745 (telephone)
605-336-2305 (fax)
bryan@paulsenmarketing.com