Steve Mehs
02-05-03, 05:02 AM
Investor's Business Daily recently talked with WildBlue CEO Tom Moore about the satellite broadband company's prospects, especially after winning $156 million in new investments in December.
Moore told Investor's Business Daily that "there's a proven market there" for WildBlue's business plan to offer high-speed Internet access to underserved rural areas and businesses.
"There are probably 15 million high-speed subscribers in North America who have cable modems or DSL. They pay somewhere from $40 to $50 monthly," he said. "We plan to offer a comparable service at a comparable price in - let's say - one-third of the U.S., where you can't get cable modem service or fast phone lines."
The financial news source also asked why EchoStar backed away from WildBlue. Moore said: "Charlie Ergen (EchoStar chairman) had been involved in the merger with DirecTV (which would have given EchoStar control of the Spaceway broadband satellite effort). Also, Charlie has always preferred controlling positions in companies. We have distributed shareholdings, so that was difficult."
WildBlue will launch its satellite broadband service in 2004 by leasing capacity on a Telesat Canada satellite.
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/feb2003/020503.shtm#three) (Used with Permission)
Moore told Investor's Business Daily that "there's a proven market there" for WildBlue's business plan to offer high-speed Internet access to underserved rural areas and businesses.
"There are probably 15 million high-speed subscribers in North America who have cable modems or DSL. They pay somewhere from $40 to $50 monthly," he said. "We plan to offer a comparable service at a comparable price in - let's say - one-third of the U.S., where you can't get cable modem service or fast phone lines."
The financial news source also asked why EchoStar backed away from WildBlue. Moore said: "Charlie Ergen (EchoStar chairman) had been involved in the merger with DirecTV (which would have given EchoStar control of the Spaceway broadband satellite effort). Also, Charlie has always preferred controlling positions in companies. We have distributed shareholdings, so that was difficult."
WildBlue will launch its satellite broadband service in 2004 by leasing capacity on a Telesat Canada satellite.
From SkyReport (http://www.skyreport.com/skyreport/feb2003/020503.shtm#three) (Used with Permission)