New Service on Express AM8 for South America

Important update for our South American customers out there - the Eutelsat AB2 satellite has been replaced by the Express AM8 satellite. A system with improved upload speeds used for VOIP protocols such as Skype and Viber.

Previously, our services in South America were on iDirect hardware and powered by the AB2 (a.k.a Eutelsat 12 West B) satellite - however, forever wanting to improve our customers’ experience, the Freedomsat network is now running off Express AM8.

Express AM8 is located at 14°W and owned/operated by the Russian State Company for Satellite Communications. Launched in late 2015 on a Proton-M rocket and designed by ISS Reshetnev Company in cooperation with Thales Alenia Space, the Express AM8 satellite has a lifespan of 15 years and offers a far superior service to what was available on Eutelsat’s AB2.

The subscription plans available will not change and still range from Freedom 5 (5GB, up to 512kbps/256kbps) to Freedom 100 (100GB, up to 3072kbps/768kbps) - enabling a fast and stable internet connection irrespective of your location for attractive prices.

We will still be working with iDirect to provide this service on iDirect X1 modems with 1.2m antennas along with any auxiliary equipment required (depending on the project). However, HughesNet HX equipment will also be supported.

An exciting development from the switch to Express AM8 is that we will now be able to offer a DVB-S2 service on a high-powered Ku-band service in South America using iDirect iQ modems similar to our networks in Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan. This new network is in the pipeline and we will keep you updated with any developments as they arise.

Alongside our iDirect services on Express AM8, we will continue to offer the Newtec IP Easy service off the Eutelsat fleet. Subscription plans on this service range from the Basic (1GB, up to 512kbps/128kbps) to the Tungsten (50GB, up to 10240kbps/512kbps).

If you would like any quotations drawn up or want to know more about these services, please get in contact with our Sales Department on sales@bentleywalker.com or 0044 2392 311 103. For the budding resellers out there, now would also be a particularly exciting time to enter into a partnership with us!