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WildBlue was named Euroconsult’s 2007 Broadband Satellite System Operator of the Year during the 11th World Summit for Satellite Financing in Paris, France. WildBlue provides high-speed Internet access via satellite to homes and small businesses in communities not currently served, or underserved, by other high speed providers. From their press release:
The Broadband Satellite System Operator of the Year award is based on a performance analysis of satellite market players, selected by a jury composed of representatives from Satellite Finance, Space News and from Euroconsult’s analyst team. In selecting the award recipients, the jury reviews each operator’s performance in relation to a number of benchmarks, including: subscribers at year-end 2006 and 2006 subscription growth; penetration of the estimated addressable market at year-end 2006; and strategic decisions and innovative offerings of 2007. WildBlue received the award yesterday during a ceremony held at the Hotel Westin in Paris.
But who is Euroconsult?
Since its creation, the company has become a worldwide reference for research and advice at each step of the value chain in the satellite industry including satellite manufacturers, satellite operators, satellite service providers, launch and services equipment, space agencies, TV platforms & channels as well as bankers, investors and insurers.
A forum on this award dished mixed-reactions. One user notes that the survey did not include—duh—customers! And some of these customers don’t seem too happy — suffering from frequent timeouts, slow speeds, and questionable customer support. Some express their anger on YouTube:
Others however, realize where the satellite broadband industry is — in its infancy, expanding, and still adapting to customer demands. HughesNet (the primary WildBlue alternative) is rising but doesn’t appear to be out-performing WildBlue in value or speed. As one forum particpant puts it: “I wasn’t happy with the spike in latency, but at the end of the day no one else is working any harder to provide this customer with a better alternative, at least not today.”
