Gilat Satellite Networks has announced that it has been chosen by STL Ghana to provide a SkyEdge II broadband satellite network that will serve its customers throughout West Africa.

The new network, comprising two SkyEdge II hub stations and close to 1,000 VSATs, will be used by STL Ghana to serve the complex networking requirements of West African enterprises, health care organizations and financial services firms.

This includes a wide variety of interactive data applications such as videoconferencing, virtual private networks, VoIP services, IP multicasting and broadband Internet connectivity.

SkyEdge II is an excellent solution for the corporate and financial sectors, enabling advanced Quality of Service (QoS) for critical data applications, fast throughput for file transfers, and high quality voice.

STL Ghana is one of Africa's leading satellite service providers. The Company already provides broadband-based satellite communications services to numerous corporations and institutions throughout Ghana, through its existing networks based on Gilat's technology.

With the deployment of the new SkyEdge II network, STL Ghana will provide services to approximately 2,000 sites throughout West Africa.

"As West African economies expand, the need for cost-efficient, reliable satellite networking becomes more critical, as it represents one of the only available communications infrastructure in the region," said Guy Shmuel, Chief Technical Officer, STL Ghana.

"We have built a successful partnership with Gilat and we look forward to continuing that relationship. Working together, we can meet the most vital communications requirements of Ghana's businesses, institutions and citizens."

Nir Korman, Gilat's Regional Vice President, Africa, said, "The deployment of a SkyEdge II network will enable STL to deliver advanced, high performance services that meet the rapidly growing regional communications needs for organizations in the region, such as banks."