Digital rendering of the Amazonas 2 satellite. Photo: Hispasat

Spanish operator Hispasat announced on Tuesday that it has renewed and expanded a multi-year, multi-transponder satellite capacity contract with Israel’s Gilat Satellite Networks.

Under the terms of the agreement, Hispasat will provide Gilat with capacity on the Amazonas 2 and 3 satellites located at 61 degrees West, which Gilat will use to extend its backhaul and mobile network services in the United States. Hispasat will also assist Gilat with connecting hundreds of base stations for its customers in the fixed and mobile satellite services market.

“Cellular backhaul solutions via satellite are essential to guarantee the robust connections that mobile communications need in areas such as the United States where the satellite link is highly efficient,” Hispasat’s North America Business Director Ruben Levcovitz explained. “The implementation of 4G, LTE and the arrival of 5G technology will lead to a growth in the demand for these communications services. As such, this type of solution is especially ideal for vast regions with less-developed land-based communication infrastructures in certain areas.”

Throughout the past year, Gilat and Hispasat have been actively partnering on multiple backhaul and connectivity roll out projects in the Americas. In December, Gilat received a multi-million dollar order from Hispasat to extend Altán La Red Compartida‘s service to rural Mexico.  In June, Hispasat signed an agreement to provide broadband to Red Compartida in Mexico, using Gilat’s SkyEdge IIC platform, which operates in Ka-band.