Solaris Mobile, the Dublin-based operator of hybrid satellite and terrestrial wireless networks across Europe, has been granted a combined Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) and Complementary Ground Control (CGC) licence authorisation in Spain.

This latest European licence authorisation brings to 12 the total number of MSS licences awarded to Solaris Mobile in members state countries, which include the UK, Finland, Luxembourg, Italy, Slovenia, France, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, The Netherlands and Poland. Four of these licences comprise authorisations covering both the MSS and the terrestrial CGC element.

The most recent licence will allow Solaris Mobile’s hybrid satellite and terrestrial network to operate within Spain, and will enable the provision of voice and data services, video-on-demand, digital radio and other broadband and broadcast services to mobile devices.

In May 2009, the European Commission selected Solaris Mobile to operate services in 2 x 15 MHz blocks of S-Band spectrum across Europe. As required by the MSS Decision adopted by the European Parliament and Council of Member States in 2008, the selection and authorisation of systems providing MSS mandates Member States to provide Solaris Mobile with rights-of-use authorisations for S-Band radio spectrum for the delivery of MSS in their country, including authorisation of service delivery via CGC.

“Solaris Mobile has made steady progress in acquiring licence authorisations from the member states in the last year,” says CEO, Steve Maine. “We continue to make progress in acquiring and consolidating rights with subsequent EU countries for the remaining licences, and will act in compliance with national regimes as soon as they are put in place. Several member states have yet to establish their national framework for authorising these services. These licences allow Solaris Mobile to deploy a hybrid satellite and terrestrial wireless network which will deliver next generation broadband and broadcast services, for the purpose of enhancing mobile communications across the 27 European member states.”