[10-03-07 – Satellite Today]  Spacenet Inc. is working with Verizon Business to deploy a satellite network for the U.S. Postal Service, Spacenet parent Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. announced Oct. 1.

The network will provide broadcast communications based on the SkyEdge VSAT platform for more than 5,000 postal service sites in the continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. The network will support applications such as a video relay service for deaf and hard of hearing employees, multicast content delivery, real-time video broadcasting, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP)-based digital telephone services, routine data transport and point-of-sale transactions. The network also will support back-up communications for several facilities, as well as portable communications for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service fleet

"This contract demonstrates that a team composed of a leading satellite services provider and a major telecom operator, such as Spacenet and Verizon Business, can provide customers with the best of all worlds — cost effective communications with high availability and world class service,”Andreas Georghiou, CEO of Spacenet, said in a statement.
All sites are expected to be operational later this fall.