Gilat Satellite Networks Announces Milestone in ITC-IBD 'E-Choupal' Project in India

Gilat Satellite Networks says it has reached a major milestone in the supply of the Company’s Skystar 360E VSATs to ITC Limited in India, confirming that it has supplied during the past 12 months over 1,500 VSATs primarily for ITC’s ‘E-Choupal’ project.

Launched in June 2000 by the International Business Division (IBD) of ITC Limited, ‘E-Choupal’ has already become the largest initiative among all Internet-based interventions in rural India. ‘E-Choupal’ services today reach out to more than two million farmers across the country growing a range of crops – soybeans, coffee, wheat, rice, pulses, shrimp – in some 20,000 villages through 3,600 kiosks across six states (Madhya Pradesh,Maharashta, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh & Rajasthan). Part of the implementation of the ‘E-Choupal’ network is with Gilat’s long-time customer & system integrator HCL Comnet Ltd.

Mr. Siva Kumar CEO ITC-IBD said, “The enthusiastic response from farmers has encouraged us to plan for the extension of the ‘E-Choupal’ initiative to 11 other states across India over the next few years. There are plans to channelize services related to micro-credit, insurance, health and education through the same ‘E-Choupal’ infrastructure.”

Avihu Bergman, Gilat’s Executive VP Sales, said, “India continues to fulfill its promise as one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for VSAT technology. With the acceleration in the deployment of ‘E-Choupal’ sites by ITC, we feel vindicated in our continued commitment to this project and the Indian market.”

Bergman added, “The ‘E-Choupal’ project is a case study for rural farmers from different geographies who can benefit from the pioneering work done by ITC for this project. We also find it gratifying to know that our technology is used to bring the power of high-speed Internet access – as well as interactive data applications – to rural farmers through out the country. We will be continuing our successful relationship with ITC Limited and HCL Comnet Limited which helps ensure and maintain our leadership in the Indian VSAT market.”