Nepal
Telecom Chooses Gilat SkyEdge Satellite Network for Cellular Backhaul,
Telephony, and Broadband Data Connectivity Nationwide
PETAH TIKVA,
Israel, Feb. 3, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd.
(Nasdaq:GILT) today announced it has been selected by Telecommunications
Consultants India Ltd (TCIL), a leading telecommunications consultancy and
engineering company, to provide Nepal Telecom (Nepal Doorsanchar Nigam Ltd.)
with a SkyEdge broadband satellite communications network covering hundreds of
sites. Nepal Telecom is the largest telecommunications operator in Nepal, a
country with a population of nearly 30 million.
Nepal Telecom
will use the new VSAT network to deliver broadband Internet connectivity to
remote areas and to provide toll-quality telephony to rural citizens, meeting
its Universal Service Obligations.
"With a
landscape of mountainous terrain and remote villages, Nepalese geography
represents one of the most formidable challenges for providing dependable
telecom services," said Mr. Anoop Ranjan Bhattarai, Director of Nepal Telecom's
Satellite Service Department. "We are confident that Gilat's advanced VSAT
technology and customer support ideally suits our demanding requirements, in
addition to helping us extend our cellular services to rural
Nepal."
Nepal Telecom
has also chosen Gilat's SkyAbis cellular backhaul solution to extend the range
of GSM and CDMA services for Nepal's cellular operators. Gilat's SkyAbis is a
prepackaged solution for cellular backhaul, based on the SkyEdge multi-service
platform. The solution enables operators to deploy hybrid networks that extend
the reach of their terrestrial and cellular infrastructure to remote
communities. SkyAbis features traffic optimization and dynamic bandwidth
allocation for CDMA/GSM backhaul, with much higher space-segment efficiencies
when compared to SCPC.
Mr. Vimal
Wakhlu, Executive Director, TCIL, said, "We are pleased to have partnered with
Gilat for this important project. By incorporating Gilat's advanced VSAT
platform as part of the solution, Nepal Telecom will benefit from a low total
cost of ownership solution while offering customers high-performance
connectivity and a diverse range of services."
N. Ranganathan,
Gilat Network System's RVP, Asia, said, "This is another example of how Gilat
partners with its customers to provide solutions that cater to their specific
requirements. In this case, Gilat is providing its advanced satellite
communications and cellular backhaul technology, enabling Nepal Telecom to
extend the range of cellular services and provide voice and broadband data
connectivity nationwide, improving the quality of life for citizens in the
country's remote locations."
Gilat's SkyEdge
is a satellite communications system that delivers high-quality voice, broadband
data and video services over a powerful unified system. SkyEdge represents
Gilat's extensive knowledge base and field-proven product offering, acquired
through two decades of experience. SkyEdge's flexible architecture and efficient
space segment utilization make it an ideal platform for operators and service
providers.
About Nepal
Telecom
As Nepal's
largest telecommunications operator, Nepal Telecom is a progressive company
committed to providing nationwide, reliable services promoting the country's
social, political and economic development. For more information, please visit
www.ntc.net.np.
About
TCIL:
Telecommunications
Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) is a leading ISO - 9001:2000 certified public
sector undertaking. TCIL, a premier telecommunication consultancy and
engineering company with a strong base in Telecommunication & Information
Technology (IT), was incorporated in 1978 by the Department of
Telecommunications (DOT), Government of India under the aegis of the Ministry of
Communications, headed by the Minister of Communications and Information
Technology. TCIL provides a wide spectrum of services in the fields of Telecom
and IT and undertakes projects from concept to completion. TCIL has executed
several key telecom projects in more than 60 countries and is presently active
in more than 20 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia including SAARC
and ASEAN. TCIL is also the implementing agency for a Pan-African e-Network
project which is a Joint initiative of the Government of India and African
Union.
About Gilat
Satellite Networks Ltd.
Gilat Satellite
Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq:GILT) is a leading provider of products and services for
satellite-based communications networks. The Company operates under three
business units: (i) Gilat Network Systems ("GNS"), which is a provider of
network systems and associated professional services to service providers and
operators worldwide; (ii) Spacenet Inc., which provides managed services in
North America for businesses and governments through its Connexstar service
brand and for consumers through its StarBand service brand; (iii) Spacenet Rural
Communications, which offers rural telephony and Internet access solutions to
remote areas primarily in Latin America.
Gilat was
founded in 1987 and has shipped over 750,000 Very Small Aperture Terminals
(VSATs) to more than 85 countries across six continents. Gilat's headquarters is
located in Petah Tikva, Israel. The Company has 16 sales and service offices
worldwide. Gilat markets the SkyEdge(tm) and SkyEdge II Product Family which
includes the SkyEdge Pro, SkyEdge IP, SkyEdge Call, SkyEdge DVB-RCS and SkyEdge
Gateway. In addition, the Company markets numerous other legacy
products.
The Gilat
Satellite Networks Ltd. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5848
Certain
statements made herein that are not historical are forward-looking within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words
"estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe" and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors could
cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Gilat to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among
others, changes in general economic and business conditions, inability to
maintain market acceptance to Gilat's products, inability to timely develop and
introduce new technologies, products and applications, rapid changes in the
market for Gilat's products, loss of market share and pressure on prices
resulting from competition, introduction of competing products by other
companies, inability to manage growth and expansion, loss of key OEM partners,
inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, inability to protect the
Company's proprietary technology and risks associated with Gilat's international
operations and its location in Israel. For additional information regarding
these and other risks and uncertainties associated with Gilat's business,
reference is made to Gilat's reports filed from time to time with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT: Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd.
Kim Kelly
+972-3-925-2406
Kimk@gilat.com