ETC Contracts Gilat to Expand Ethiopian SchoolNet Project

[Satellite TODAY 06-03-10] Gilat Satellite Networks has been chosen by Ethiopia’s national telecom operator, Ethiopian Telecommunication Corp. (ETC), to provide satellite communications equipment for deployment as part of the country’s nationwide SchoolNet project, Gilat announced June 2.
    SchoolNet, a satellite-based network which provides Internet connectivity as well as TV-broadcast educational content to secondary schools across Ethiopia, aims to provide students in hundreds of rural schools with access to equal learning opportunities to those in urban schools. ETC will integrate Gilat’s satellite communications equipment to expand the network to serve several hundred additional schools.
    Gilat is currently providing ETC with an upgrade to its existing VSAT network to enable delivery of advanced broadband services. ETC also is deploying Gilat’s VSATs at remote community centers to provide Ethiopian citizens with telephony and broadband Internet access.