SkyEdge is Gilat's recently announced revolutionary, unified platform supporting a variety of applications and topologies including mesh, star and multi-star.

The introduction of the system represents a major step forward in VSAT technology.

The agreement with Optus is the first SkyEdge contract to be announced following a successful beta phase. The deployment and upgrade of the network is expected to be completed in Q4 of 2004.

Optus operates two-way satellite services throughout Australia and New Zealand based predominantly on Gilat's 360 and 360E systems, which will now be expanded to SkyEdge as well.

The existing Gilat network is already being used by Optus to deliver distance-learning services to small rural towns and isolated homesteads in New South Wales (NSW) and across the Northern Territory (NT).

The network will now be expanded to support additional distance learning applications, health, rural broadband for SOHO and SMEs as well as total solutions for corporations throughout Australia.

"We are pleased to continue our relationship with Gilat and are confident that this upgrade will enable us to improve the quality and range of services we supply to our customers," said Warren Hardy, Managing Director of Optus Wholesale & Satellite.

Oded Sheshinski, Gilat's Manager for Australia-Pacific, said, "This agreement with Optus is a natural extension of the successful operation of our network in the past and Optus's satisfaction with our technology, solutions and close customer support."

"We are pleased that the first network of our new SkyEdge Product family should be deployed by Optus which will benefit from the most advanced VSAT technology available and be able to continue to expand its offering of solutions to its customers throughout Australia and New Zealand."

The SkyEdge Product Family: One system. A world of possibilities.

With the ability to support an endless array of applications in data, telephony and broadband IP all using the same hub, the SkyEdge product family represents a breakthrough in the industry.

It is the first truly comprehensive satellite communications platform to deliver superior data, voice and video services over a single, powerful system.

The family consists of the SkyEdge System (the hub), and five VSAT products including:

- SkyEdge Pro - Multi-service VSAT, supporting interactive data, mesh telephony, broadband IP and video, with plug-in cards architecture expanding the VSAT capabilities.

- SkyEdge IP - IP Router VSAT, supporting interactive, broadband IP, VoIP and multicasting applications.

- SkyEdge Call - Telephony VSAT, supporting thin-route telephony applications.

- SkyEdge Gateway - Trunking Solutions VSAT, providing mesh trunking solutions supporting digital telephony and IP data on demand trunking applications.

- SkyEdge DVB-RCS - Enhanced Standard VSAT, fully supporting the DVB-RCS standard. Being much more than only a return link standard, this dual mode VSAT provides a unique real end to end standard solution for a satellite network operator with an arsenal of additional access schemes, embedded software and enhanced IP acceleration features for full flexibility and support in a complex IP environment.

Related Links
SingTel Optus Satellite
Gilat Satellite Networks
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