DirecTV to offer broadband and VoIP in US

The service, which will first be available in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area, will be available at the end of 2007 or early 2008. The deal will allow DirecTV to sell a bundle including DirecTV high-speed Internet and VoIP services. DirecTV will be able to add other geographic markets as CURRENT builds its network.

Through the agreement, DirecTV will have access to CURRENT's BPL (Broadband over Powerline) network that will cover about 1.8 million homes and businesses over the next several years.

DirecTV has more than 16.3 million customers in the US and throughout Latin America. The company provides broadband satellite networks and services via its core enterprise VSAT (satellite networking) business.

CURRENT Group LLC, is a privately held company based in Germantown, Maryland, and is the leading provider in the US of Broadband over Powerline (BPL) solutions and services to electric distribution companies worldwide. CURRENT is also a fully integrated communications service provider offering high performance broadband Internet services to consumer and business users over existing electric power lines and in-home electric wiring.