AT&T followed up on the recent announcement of its partnership with satellite-based wireless ISP WildBlue by officially launching its satellite broadband service today. Called "AT&T High Speed Internet Access, powered by WildBlue," the service is available in many rural and remote areas across the company's 13-state local residential service area.

"Broadband access to the Internet is no longer a luxury, it is a vital need for most households and businesses today," said Jim Callaway, senior executive vice president, AT&T Business Development. "Satellite technology provides a viable broadband option for areas that cannot be effectively served by DSL or cable, enabling AT&T to offer services in areas that have had few or no options previously. Our efforts to expand the reach of broadband will enable many of our rural customers to take full advantage of online business, educational, and communications tools for the very first time."

Rural satellite-based broadband subscribers will have three service packages to choose from, with prices ranging from $49.95 to $79.95 per month, and broadband speed options ranging up to 1.5 Mb/s downstream and up to 256 Kb/s upstream. AT&T satellite-based broadband customers will have direct access to the public Yahoo! portal, which will be set as customers' default Internet home page. Service options will initially be available in most rural AT&T service areas in the following states: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Kansas, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Texas. Services are available today in portions of the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Additional availability in these states is expected later in 2006.

The new satellite offering is part of an overall effort by AT&T to evaluate and develop new broadband access methods to fit a variety of customer profiles and market needs. Earlier this month, AT&T announced expansion of its deployment of WiMAX and other fixed wireless technologies. AT&T's new fixed wireless deployments will be launched this summer in Pahrump, Nevada; and Red Oak and Midlothian, Texas.