Hughes Communications (News - Alert) India, Ltd. (HCIL), a broadband satellite network and services provider, recently won a $4.5-million (Rs.246 million) contract to deliver comprehensive educational content via the INSAT-4CR satellite network to schools and educational institutions across Punjab.

The contract is the largest for a satellite-based education network across India.

The satellite-based network will reportedly connect approximately 2,950 schools, and broadcast content and lectures, either live or pre-recorded, from their Mohali-based studios – all broadcast across the Punjab State.

"The EDUSAT project initiated by the Punjab Government will prove an asset in providing teaching and imparting a quality education at the school level," said Kahan Singh Pannu, the director general of school education and secretary and project director for the EDUSAT project, Punjab Government. “The state government plans to provide that necessary facilities and infrastructure that is required and which will enable the faculty to give their best to the students. This will supplement curriculum-based teaching training, provide greater community participation, increase access, strengthen education efforts and provide access to new technologies.”

Shivaji Chatterjee, vice president at Hughes India, said, "We are proud that the Punjab Government has chosen Hughes for this project. India holds a strong position in the knowledge economy today, in large part due to its major investment in education over the years. In this program, we'll leverage best-of-breed technology and project management practices to ensure the most rapid and economical solution to help close the digital divide across the state."

The firm plans to implement strategic projects across other state governments in India as well.

HCIL is a subsidiary of the Hughes Network Systems (News - Alert) and is India’s largest satellite service operator that provides an extensive range of broadband networking technologies, and solutions for both businesses and governments to meet any communications challenge.

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO Miami 2013, happening now in Miami, Florida.  Stay in touch with everything happening at ITEXPO (News - Alert). Follow us on Twitter.