Worldspace(R) Italia & Telecom Italia Sign Deal to Design / Deploy Terrestrial Repeater Network in Italy
20 January 2007
WorldSpace Italia, S.p.A., a subsidiary of WorldSpace, Inc. (Nasdaq: WRSP) today announced it has entered into an agreement with Telecom Italia that brings digital satellite radio one step closer to European consumers, starting with Italy. Under the terms of the agreement, Telecom Italia, utilizing its extensive telecommunications expertise and infrastructure, will design and deploy a terrestrial repeater network throughout Italy, for WorldSpace Italia.
Terrestrial repeaters or "gap fillers," are towers that enable WorldSpace Italia to re-transmit its satellite radio broadcasts to consumers who do not have a direct line of sight to WorldSpace's satellite. These towers are most commonly used in urban areas where the satellite signal may be blocked by large buildings or other man-made obstacles. WorldSpace Italia intends to deploy its repeaters in the major Italian urban areas while the rural areas of Italy will be serviced directly by the satellite signal. By deploying terrestrial repeaters, WorldSpace Italia can ensure that subscribers driving automobiles or using portable devices can enjoy a seamless listening experience as they move about the country.
In May 2006, WorldSpace Italia received approval from the Italian Ministry of Communications to launch a subscription-based satellite radio service in Italy, utilizing 12.5 MHz of the L-band frequency spectrum, the only frequency band harmonized for satellite radio over Europe. Today, WorldSpace, Inc. has two operational satellites that cover nearly two-thirds of the world's population. Its AfriStar(TM) satellite covers Europe, Africa and the Middle East. WorldSpace's strategy is to roll out a European service on a sequential, country-by-country basis, beginning with Italy. A third satellite, already built and in storage in Toulouse, France, is expected to provide additional capacity over Europe, enabling consumers to have access to approximately 50 channels per country of diversified sports, talk and commercial-free music programming at the service's maturity.
Commenting upon the deal with Telecom Italia, Luca Panerai, CEO of WorldSpace Italia stated, "This agreement is a critical step toward commencement of our satellite radio service in Italy. When completed, the complementary repeater network will enable us to provide subscribers with country-wide access to a wide variety of unique content. We are pleased that Italy will be the first country in Europe to receive satellite radio services and we are honored to work with a strong partner such as Telecom Italia for deploying the critical terrestrial backbone of our network."
About WORLDSPACE(R) Satellite Radio
Based in the Washington, DC, USA metropolitan area, WorldSpace, Inc. (Nasdaq: WRSP) is the world's only global media and entertainment company positioned to offer a satellite radio experience to consumers in more than 130 countries with five billion people, driving 300 million cars. WORLDSPACE delivers the latest tunes, trends and information from around the world and around the corner.
WORLDSPACE subscribers benefit from a unique combination of local programming, original WORLDSPACE content and content from leading brands around the globe including the BBC, CNN, Virgin Radio UK, NDTV and RFI. The WORLDSPACE satellites cover two-thirds of the earth's population with six beams. Each beam is capable of delivering up to 80 channels of high quality digital audio and multimedia programming directly to WORLDSPACE Satellite Radios anytime and virtually anywhere in its coverage areas. WORLDSPACE is a pioneer of satellite-based digital radio services (DARS) and was instrumental in the development of the technology infrastructure used today by XM Satellite Radio. For more information, visit http://www.WORLDSPACE.com.
WorldSpace Italia, S.p.A is a majority-owned subsidiary of WorldSpace's European holding company, WorldSpace Europe. WorldSpace Italia's other partner is New Satellite Radio S.r.l., an Italian company whose primary shareholder is Class Editori S.p.A., a leading Italian financial, media and broadcast corporate based in Milan. WorldSpace anticipates launching Europe's first satellite digital radio and data service to portable and vehicular devices in late 2007, in Italy.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations or beliefs about future events and financial, political and social trends and assumptions it has made based on information currently available to it. The Company cannot assure that any expectations, forecasts or assumptions made by management in preparing these forward-looking statements will prove accurate, or that any projections will be realized. Such forward-looking statements may be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks or uncertainties. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein. Forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or otherwise
Source: prnewswire
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