TIM Ends Premium SAT Over Eutelsat Exit

TIM

TIM has confirmed that its Premium SAT satellite internet service will be discontinued on January 19, 2025. This decision follows Eutelsat’s unilateral move to cease providing the satellite connectivity that powers the service.

A Service Born for Remote Connectivity

Premium SAT was introduced as part of a 2020 agreement between TIM and Eutelsat to address connectivity gaps in Italy’s most isolated areas. The service aimed to bring high-speed internet to regions lacking access to traditional broadband options. Initial testing began in June, 2021, and the offer was officially launched in October of that year, originally under the name TIM Super SAT, before being rebranded to TIM Premium SAT.

The service relied on Eutelsat’s KONNECT satellite, which was exclusively reserved for TIM customers in Italy. It was designed for areas not covered by ADSL, FTTC, FTTH, or FWA technologies and offered to users with poor-performing connections. However, the service excluded coverage in Sicily and parts of southern Sardinia.

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Decline and Suspension

TIM halted the sale of Premium SAT to new customers in February, 2024, citing challenges in maintaining the service. Meanwhile, with intervention from Italy’s Communications Regulatory Authority (AGCOM), a dispute between TIM and Eutelsat further complicated matters. Despite efforts to delay the shutdown and minimize customer impact, Eutelsat terminated its support, setting January 19, 2025, as the final date for service availability.

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TIM has assured that it is actively communicating with impacted customers, informing them of the service’s discontinuation and offering assistance during the transition. Customers will be presented with alternative connectivity options based on location and available technologies.

In addition, TIM has confirmed that charges for its Premium SAT service will cease once the service is deactivated. The company emphasized that the termination of satellite connectivity was not its decision but the result of external factors, specifically Eutelsat’s decision to withdraw support.

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