[SatNews] A high speed Internet link has now been built for 4G services in Canada...

Xplornet Communications Inc. has completed a 4G satellite ground station that is located near St. John's, Newfoundland. This multi-million dollar investment in cutting-edge ground station technology will provide a high speed link to the Internet for a next generation, or 4G, high throughput satellite that will supply broadband for rural Canadians across the country. Satellite is the key to unlocking access to real broadband for rural Canadians, and ground stations like the one in St. John's provide the terrestrial link for the high-capacity signal the satellites will receive and transmit.

Gerry O'Reilly, Xplornet's Chief Financial Officer, commented on the announcement, "We have invested in Newfoundland and Labrador because it offered us robust infrastructure to connect our ground station to the Internet, and its location worked with our national network design. This ground station is an integral part of our national 4G network, allowing us to create a better broadband experience for rural Canadians." Xplornet's first 4G satellite will be launched in September of this year, and the service will be commercially available before year's end. A second 4G satellite is scheduled for launch in the first half of 2012. Xplornet as invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Canada to bridge the urban/rural broadband divide. "This ground station - and the network it will support - will be a game-changer for broadband in rural Canada. As a Newfoundlander myself, I'm proud to make Newfoundland and Labrador an important part of our technical and investment plans" concluded O'Reilly.

Xplornet is working with Telesat Canada and HughesNet to deliver fast, reliable and affordable two-way satellite high-speed Internet service to homes and businesses everywhere in Canada. Xplornet uses both the Ka- and Ku-band frequencies to deliver its satellite service. The benefit of having two frequencies is that it allows a customer to choose the service package and delivery technology that best meet their needs.