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Satellite Failure Hits Broadband Users

StarBand is hoping to provide temporary dial-up access to affected customers.

Paul Kallender, IDG News Service

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The failure of a communications satellite has knocked out broadband services supplied by StarBand Communications, according to a statement posted on the company's Web site.

The irreparable failure of Intelsat Americas-7 at 2:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Sunday is forcing StarBand to move customers to a different satellite. Meanwhile, the company is attempting to provide temporary dial-up service to customers affected, the statement says.

The satellite owner, Intelsat, says the craft had suffered a sudden and unexplained electrical anomaly and that it was permanently lost. The satellite was built by Space/Systems Loral and launched in September 1999. From its orbital position at 129 degrees West, it covered North America, Central America, and parts of South America. The satellite was self-insured by Intelsat, according to the company.

StarBand did not say how many subscribers were affected.

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StarBand serves residential customers at download speeds of 150 kilobits per second to 500 kbps and small business customers at speeds up to 1 Mbps. Its services are available throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Subscribers use a 3-foot satellite dish to send and receive signals.

Intelsat says its IA-8 satellite, scheduled for a December 17 launch, may take over some of the lost services. The IA-8 will provide 36 Ku-band and 24 C-band transponders according to the company.

The loss of the satellite could affect plans to sell the company, Intelsat says. A consortium led by Zeus Holdings has bid for the company, but under an agreement with Intelsat, the total loss of the IA-7 satellite gives Zeus the right to cancel the deal. Zeus has advised Intelsat that it is evaluating the impact of the IA-7 failure, according to a statement by Intelsat.

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