Yakutia has less than one million people spread across more than 3.1 million square kilometers. Gilat’s SkyEdge 2 solution will include hub installation, integration with previously installed Sky Edge platforms and service support and maintenance. The company also will oversee the installation of remote sites across Yakutia’s rugged geography.

   The new satellite-based broadband network, designed for multi-star operation, aims to provide telephony, Internet and video-conferencing connectivity to new branches of the Ministry and is expected to be operational by August.

   “The solid performance of the current SkyEdge System and Gilat’s product leadership, service support and ability to offer a turnkey solution that meets our technical and timeline requirements were key considerations in the selection process. The network will offer improved utilization of space segment and maximizes bandwidth efficiency at a time when the supply of capacity in the Russian satellite market is nearly exhausted,” Ministry of Finance Spokesman Aisen Evgenievich said in a statement.