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Gilat Satellite Networks (News - Alert), specializing in satellite networking technology, solutions and services, revealed that it has received a new contract from the Colombian Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MINTIC) to provide broadband Internet connectivity to over 1,600 schools situated in the rural regions.

In a release Diego Molano Vega, minister of IT and communications said, “Thanks to these awards more than 6,800 rural schools in the country will have access to the Internet with twice or four times the speeds they enjoyed before. More than 1,130,000 children and adolescents will have the same opportunities as urban students to use information technologies in their schools.”

The contract valued at approximately $18.5 million will be hosted by the Ministry’s Social Telecommunications Program and the Ministry’s “Fondo de Tecnologias de la Informacion y las Communicaciones.” The project is expected to begin in 2012 and be completed by mid 2013.

The innovative WebEnhance VSAT feature in Gilat’s SkyEdge II solution is capable of providing broadband connectivity data rates of up to 2 Mbps. The network is expected to connect 1,676 schools located in five separate districts across rural Colombia.

The contract was awarded as part of a national bid for over 6,800 schools awarded to seven operators. The Colombian government strives to bridge the communication gap in Colombia, and provide improved access to advance communications services in schools. With this in mind this initiative has been launched, said officials.

Amiram Levinberg, Gilat’s CEO and Chairman of the Board stated, “Gilat has been at the forefront of delivering communication services in Colombia for over a decade, and we are proud to be able to continue this important work and be a valid contributor to improving the lives of children across rural areas.”

Israel-based Gilat offers products and professional services for satellite-based broadband communications networks. The company provides Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) to clients across the globe. Gilat also develops and markets an expansive range of broadband satellite solutions including high-performance VSATs under the SkyEdge and SkyEdge II brands.

Officials added that Gilat offers low-profile antennas for satcom-on-the-move, under the RaySat Antenna Systems and the StealthRay brands besides optimized solid-state power amplifiers for mission-critical defense and broadcast satellite communications systems under the Wavestream (News - Alert) brand.

Gilat also announced that it has been selected by JSC NC ‘Kazsatnet,’ a Republic of Kazakhstan telecommunications company, to deploy a SkyEdge II broadband satellite network to complement its fiber and IP networks.