[Satellite TODAY 09-29-10] France Telecom awarded a contract to Gilat to provide satellite communications equipment to Orange Business Services, France Telecom’s enterprise communications subsidiary, Gilat announced Sept. 28.
    The equipment order covers a range of solutions such as IP/VPN, broadband access and cellular backhaul. The sourcing contract also qualifies Gilat SkyEdge 2 broadband satellite communications equipment for Orange-brand entities.
    Orange has installed a Gilat SkyEdge 2 hub at their Bercenay-en-Othe teleport in France. The hub aims to facilitate the operation of a new cellular backhaul network in Niger. The network will be deployed in multi-star topology to allow the expansion of the GSM network coverage to remote locations.
   “One of the advantages of this multi-star topology is that Orange Business Services can manage the network from their Bercenay teleport in France while maintaining direct, single-hop connectivity between the SkyEdge 2 terminals installed within the GSM network in Niger,” the company said in a statement.
    Financial details of the contract were not disclosed.