One of Colombia’s vive digital kiosks. Photo: MinTIC

[Via Satellite 05-22-2014] Hispasat’s subsidiary Hispasat Colombia has awarded a contract to Hughes for an HX broadband satellite system and terminals. The equipment is planned for use with approximately 650 Vive Digital kiosks (KVDs) in a Hispasat service region of Colombia. The Colombian Ministry of Information Technology and Communication‘s (MinTIC) coordinates the Vive Digital program, which aims to bridge the digital divide in seven underserved regions of the country.

MinTIC anticipates installing 6,648 sites in remote regions of Colombia by August. Hispasat, along with the consortium it formed with NEC Colombia, will install and operate the system as a managed service for MinTIC. Several other operators have also been contracted to deliver and manage KVDs as part of the $283.71 million project.

“There is growing demand for satellite broadband services for potentially millions of households that cannot be served by terrestrial networks anytime soon,” said Sergio Chaves, business director for South America at Hispasat.