The Colombian Ministry of Information Technologies and Telecommunications (MINTIC) has extended its contract with Gilat Satellite Networks. Valued at approximately $6.75 million, the contract extends the award originally received by Gilat in December 2011.

    Under the contract, Gilat will continue to provide broadband Internet connectivity to more than 1,500 schools throughout the Colombia’s outlying areas. The project, hosted by the Direccion de Conectividad (formerly Compartel) and the Ministry’s “Fondo de Tecnologías de la Información y las Communicaciones,” is scheduled to finish by early December, 2013, at the end of the current extension.

    The network uses the Sky-Edge II WebEnhance VSAT to provide data rates of up to 2 Mbps to schools located in five separate districts across rural Colombia. The program is part of the Colombian government’s ongoing efforts to “bridge the digital divide” and reduce the communications gap in Colombia with increased investment to improve access to advanced communications services in schools.

    “We were happy to receive the contract extension to continue providing Internet services to Colombian schools as part of the Ministry’s significant efforts to improve education and employment in rural areas,” said Danny Fridman, CEO of Gilat Peru and Colombia. “Gilat is proud to be part of improving the quality of education around the world by enabling broadband-enabled classrooms, providing students and teachers with fast, reliable, satellite connectivity.