Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. has announced that it has been chosen by Ethiopian Telecommunication Corp. (ETC), Ethiopia's national telecom operator, to provide satellite communications equipment which will be deployed as part of the nationwide SchoolNet project.

SchoolNet is a satellite-based network which provides Internet connectivity as well as TV- broadcast educational content to secondary schools across Ethiopia. The network has successfully enabled students in hundreds of rural schools to enjoy equal learning opportunities like those of their colleagues in urban schools throughout the country.

ETC is now expanding the network to serve several hundred additional schools and will integrate Gilat's satellite communications equipment as part of this expansion.

Gilat has enjoyed a successful business relationship with ETC for close to 12 years. Recently, Gilat announced that it is providing an upgrade to ETC's existing Gilat VSAT network to enable ETC to deliver advanced broadband services, which include video and data-centric applications, to meet the growing demands of its enterprise and government customers.

ETC is also deploying Gilat's VSATs at remote community centers nationwide to provide citizens with toll-quality telephony and reliable broadband internet access.

Nir Korman, Gilat's Regional Vice President, Africa, said, "We are pleased to take part in such an important project which is helping to shape the future of education in Ethiopia and to once again help ETC fulfill its commitment to provide advanced services that meet the critical communications requirements of the country."

Gilat's satellite communications networks provide dependable, high-speed data networking to government agencies, banks, energy companies and citizens at thousands of sites throughout Africa, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Namibia, Angola, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Tanzania, and South Africa.

Gilat's SkyEdge and SkyEdge II multi-service platforms enable the delivery of high-quality voice, broadband data and video services for different environments including enterprises, rural networks, cellular backhaul and government network applications.

Gilat's diverse portfolio of VSATs offer service providers the most suitable product for their application needs as well as the flexibility to evolve their networks. The newest addition to Gilat's SkyEdge II portfolio is NetEdgeTM, a dedicated solution for multi-star networks, specifically designed to meet the needs of corporate networks and cellular-backhaul applications.