[Satellite TODAY 02-07-13] Satellite and fiber-based connectivity services provider Gilat Satcom has entered into a joint venture with regional Internet service provider (ISP) Microlink to enhance affordable high-speed fiber and satellite connectivity services throughout Zambia.

   While Gilat Satcom provides service to customers in the Africa, Asia and Middle East regions, Microlink provides low-cost broadband communication solutions to individuals and enterprises throughout Zambia. With the addition of the ISP, Gilat Satcom aims to support reliable connectivity to Microlink’s portfolio for large- and small-medium enterprises (SMEs), Internet cafes, and WiFi hotspots.

   Microlink CEO John Taylor said the new joint venture also extends high-capacity, fiber-based Internet access throughout Zambia.

   “We are very excited about this opportunity,” Taylor said in a statement. “It provides Microlink not only with the renowned international expertise and technical support of Gilat Satcom, but also gives the joint venture the ability to provide global data solutions on an MPLS platform that can extend a Zambian MPLS network to any location in the world.”

As a shareholder in WIOCC, which brings fiber cable to land-locked countries in Africa, Gilat Satcom will now be able to offer a full suite of fiber connectivity solutions in addition to its C-band and Ku-band, pan-African satellite links. The company said the joint venture enables it to offer attractive pricing on the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy), the highest capacity system serving sub-Saharan Africa with 5 terabit-per-second capacity and nine landing points.

   Gilat Satcom also will offer wholesale fiber capacity on the West Africa Cable System (WACS) that runs along the western coast of Africa reaching numerous additional African countries. Gilat Satcom CEO Dan Zajicek said his company has ambitions of becoming a full ISP in Africa and has already acquired STM1 capacity on EASSy to serve Microlink’s current subscribers, as well as the new subscribers of the joint venture.

   “As a leading provider of satellite connectivity solutions throughout Africa, and as a shareholder in WIOCC, we are in the unique position of being able to offer all levels of managed connectivity solutions with guaranteed SLA and satellite backup to everybody everywhere,” Zajicek said in a statement. “The joint venture in Zambia is a major step in achieving Gilat Satcom’s ambitions. With already-deployed, dedicated sales resources in the country, the new joint venture deals directly with end users.  With considerable bandwidth on EASSy, Gilat Satcom will be able to replicate its achievement in Zambia to other countries in Africa.”