Gilat Satellite Networks has announced that it has been selected by Cable and Wireless Panama (C and W), Panama's largest telecommunications operator, to provide a Sky-Edge II broadband network that will be used to deliver broadband Internet and telephony connectivity nationwide. Cable and Wireless Panama has partnered with Gilat since 2005, providing satellite based services utilizing Gilat's SkyEdge and SkyEdge II products with over 1,300 sites now in operation.

The network enables Panamanians to access Internet applications such as interactive learning, as well as telephony services.

The current network expansion includes solar powered VSATs as well as installation, maintenance and operation of the Sky Edge II hub equipment and VoIP gateways. The solar-powered solution will be supported by new outbound capacity from Telesat's TelStar 11N.

"Our decision to select Gilat once again to support us in our endeavor to provide a robust satellite network in Panama is a clear vote of our confidence in their tremendous track record with C and W over the years.

Gilat's ability to provide a bandwidth efficient, end to end solution, coupled with their support to operate the central hub activities, has allowed us to ensure that broadband connectivity, even at the most remote locations, is of the highest quality and reliability for our customers," said Jorge Nicolau, CEO of Cable and Wireless Panama.

Commenting on the expansion award Russell Ribeiro, Gilat's Regional Vice-President of Latin America said, "We are proud of our long-lasting partnership with C amd W. This project is another testament to Gilat's ability to address the special requirements of operators as they are tasked with providing reliable communication services in challenging environments."

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

SkyEdge II is a standards-based system using DVB-S2 and DVB-RCS. With better efficiencies and full adaptability to environmental conditions and satellite space segment capacity for both the inbound and outbound channels, the platform allows service providers to offer higher performance voice and broadband data services across urban and rural locations.