Gilat Expands SkyEdge 2 Deal with Panama’s C&W

Gilat Satellite Networks has been selected by Cable & Wireless Panama (C&W) to provide a SkyEdge 2 broadband network that will be used to deliver broadband Internet and telephony connectivity nationwide.

The contracted network expansion includes solar powered VSATs as well as installation, maintenance and operation of the SkyEdge 2 hub equipment and voice-over-IP gateways. The solar-powered solution will be supported by new outbound capacity from Telesat’s TelStar 11N.

C&W first partnered with Gilat in 2005. The joint effort aimed to provide satellite-based services utilizing Gilat’s SkyEdge and SkyEdge 2 products to more than 1,300 sites now in operation.

Harris Broadcast Communications Gains Certification in Brazil

Harris Broadcast Communications has gained ISO 9001 certification for its television transmitter manufacturing facility in Campinas, Brazil. The ISO 9001 technical standard defines the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) criteria for certifying quality management systems in general, with common themes including customer focus, process-based operations, measurable performance and continuous improvement.

The Campinas facility, which opened two years ago, was certified for compliance with quality requirements in the manufacturing of broadcast transmission equipment.

MTN Satellite Communications Signs Onto Intelsat’s EpicNG Platform for Maritime Broadband

MTN Satellite Communications (MTN) has signed a long-term agreement with Intelsat to acquire maritime Ku-band capacity on the Intelsat EpicNG open-architecture satellite platform.

MTN would leverage the first Intelsat EpicNG satellite, Intelsat 29e, to provide more than 2 gigabits of capacity for MTN’s cruise and yacht customers in the Caribbean once the satellite is launched in 2015. MTN will then partially transition its custom-designed service to the Intelsat EpicNG platform. The Intelsat EpicNG also aims to give MTN the ability to maintain backwards compatibility with the rest of its global Ku-band network.