Gilat, Verestar Supply VSAT Net For Ugandan Schools
By David Williams, dwilliams@pbimedia.com
Gilat Satellite Networks [GILTF] and Verestar have been selected by the
World Bank and the World Links organization to supply a satellite
communications network providing Internet access to African schools.
World Links is a non-profit affiliate of the World Bank established to connect
schools in developing countries to the Internet. It also trains teachers and
students in developing countries in using the Internet to improve teaching and
links the schools with partner schools in developed countries for collaborative
Internet-based projects.
World Links is operating in 15 countries, 10 of them in Africa. Gilat and
Verestar are part of a pilot project, announced earlier this week by Gilat, to
provide access to the Internet for 15 schools in Uganda.
Gilat said it is supplying one of its Skystar Advantage, IP-optimized VSAT
networks, with its hub at Verestar's Glenwood, N.J., teleport or satellite
network access point (SNAP), where it is connected to the North American
Internet backbone. Verestar is providing the uplink and downlink and time on
the Intelsat 801 satellite.
"This is a turning point for these African communities, most of which do not
have even the most basic telecommunications infrastructure," said Bob
Hawkins, manager of the program for World Links.
"Right now, VSAT is the only technology capable of providing ubiquitous,
reliable communications service to this region," he said. "This network will
provide thousands of students access to all of the benefits of the Internet with
high-speed delivery, distance learning and other valuable applications."
Hawkins added that if the project is successful in the Ugandan schools, it
may be expanded to other schools throughout the continent, particularly in
Ghana, Senegal and Tanzania.
Amiram Levinberg, Gilat's president, said VSAT technology is "a solution that
can be extended throughout the world to bring students in touch with the
explosion of knowledge of which the Internet is a part." Gilat is headquartered
in Petah Tikva, Israel. Verestar, based in Fairfax County, Va., is a subsidiary
of American Tower Corp. [AMT] and operates numerous teleports in the
United States and other countries. |
