The internet coverage in Poland is out of range for 2 million households,
but satellite operator SES Astra will launch a new service to solve this problem in 3-4 months. "We shall sell it with operators willing to supplement their offer for less urbanized areas," said Leszek Bujak of the Polish branch of SES Astra.

Negotiations are under way, but the firm refused to reveal the names of potential partners. "An advantage of satellite technology is that it will encompass the whole of Poland with its coverage. But due to technical parameters this is not a threat to the most popular type of internet access offered by telecommunication networks and cable television," said Bogdan Zytka, consultant at Accenture.

Satellite internet will instead compete with internet services on mobile phone networks, as it will offer higher speeds close to the largest cities. According to the experts Astra's offer might win 200,000-300,000 clients, which would bring in revenues of zł.300 million to the company and its partners annually. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B1) M.M.