Distance learning is earning high marks in Latin America.

Phoenix-based Antenna Technology Communications (ATCi), a provider of commercial satellite communications systems, has signed a $2.8 million contract with the Mexican Ministry of Education to install what ATCi says will be the largest distance learning network in Latin America.

ATCi will build a fully redundant teleport in Mexico City to disperse distance learning programming to secondary educational institutions throughout Latin America. The teleport project will be designed and installed by ATCi to cover over 30,000 remote sites and reach more than 5 million students in the region.

The equipment requirements for the 16-channel video uplink system will include two 7.3-meter antennas, one 7.6-meter antenna, encoders, and conditional access and monitoring systems. The teleport will allow the ministry to send original Spanish language programming and provide universal coverage for video and audio distribution to audiences throughout the region. –Paul Dykewicz

(Kristen Love, ATCi, 480/844-8501)