LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nearly 4 billion people remain unconnected in the world. Bridging the digital divide is critical to bolstering a country’s GDP growth and ensuring inclusion from a social, political and economic perspective for any community.
Intelsat (NYSE: I), operator of the world’s first Globalized Network, powered by its leading satellite backbone, announced an agreement with SkyNet de Colombia a subsidiary of Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Bogota ETB to support the Colombian Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications’s Kiosco VIVE DIGITAL Phase III (KDVIII) project, whose sole aim is to bring broadband and internet connectivity to remote communities and schools in rural areas across Colombia.
Under the multi-year agreement, Skynet de Colombia will leverage the high speed performance of Intelsat 29e, the first of Intelsat’s next generation, high throughput Intelsat EpicNG satellites, located at 310° East. Together, Skynet de Colombia and Intelsat will provide broadband and internet connectivity to approximately 600 remote sites, across 250 municipalities. The services delivered to the communities will include internet access as well as programs that promote the use of technologies in the community.
“Intelsat’s high throughput Intelsat EpicNG satellites are bringing unprecedented power, cost savings and accessibility to broadband connectivity to people living in regions where there is a lack of terrestrial infrastructure,” said Rene Otero, CTO, SkyNet de Colombia. ”With greater access to reliable, high quality broadband services, remote communities can receive the same type of advantages and services that are afforded to those that live in the more developed areas of Colombia. We are happy to partner with Intelsat to support the KDVIII initiative and play an integral role in bringing more people and communities on-line throughout Colombia.”
Intelsat EpicNG’s efficiency delivers more throughput to the user, the backwards compatibility allows customers to use their existing hardware, and the open architecture enables customers to choose the network hardware that best suits their applications. This delivers unprecedented choice, control and consistent levels of service across the platform at a much lower cost of total ownership, enabling fixed and mobile network operators to cost-effectively enhance their networks to meet growing demands from existing customers while also extending the reach of their networks to capture new growth in remote areas.
“The KDVIII project in Colombia is a great example of the role that public and private partnerships can play in ensuring that digital inclusion is available for all citizens, whether they reside in remote communities or urban areas,” said Carmen Gonzalez-Sanfeliu, Intelsat’s Regional Vice President, Latin America and Caribbean. ”The flexibility of Intelsat’s Globalized Network will allow Skynet de Colombia to take full advantage of the power that our next generation Intelsat EpicNG fleet delivers and ensure that SkyNet’s customers receive a seamless broadband experience that continues to be known for its superior quality and reliability.”
Supporting Resources:
- Rise of HTS in 2016 to Lead to Seismic Shifts in Broadband Connectivity: http://www.intelsat.com/intelsat-news/rise-of-hts-in-2016-to-lead-to-seismic-shifts/
- Intelsat’s Broadband Solutions: http://www.intelsat.com/solutions/data-telecoms/
- Intelsat EpicNG: http://www.intelsat.com/global-network/satellites/epicng/
About Kioscos VIVE Digital
Kioscos VIVE Digital is an initiative of the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications which aims to provide communal internet access points to 100% of the population centers of more than 100 people. The project is focused on rural areas and remote locations as part of the aim to achieve digital inclusion of children, youth and adults of all ages.
About Intelsat
Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I) operates the world’s first Globalized Network, delivering high-quality, cost-effective video and broadband services anywhere in the world. Intelsat’s Globalized Network combines the world’s largest satellite backbone with terrestrial infrastructure, managed services and an open, interoperable architecture to enable customers to drive revenue and reach through a new generation of network services. Thousands of organizations serving billions of people worldwide rely on Intelsat to provide ubiquitous broadband connectivity, multi-format video broadcasting, secure satellite communications and seamless mobility services. The end result is an entirely new world, one that allows us to envision the impossible, connect without boundaries and transform the ways in which we live. For more information, visit www.intelsat.com.
About SkyNet de Colombia
SkyNet de Colombia, a subsidiary of Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Bogota ETB, is a telecommunications service provider specializing in satellite services. It integrates the most advanced and efficient technologies available from its own teleports using C-band and Ku-band satellite bandwidth. Skynet offers high quality internet access and Voice and Data services in remote regions of Latin America, including maritime services, where fiber infrastructure is poor or non-existent. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Skynet achieved double-digit sustained growth in the last five years, establishing itself as a leading provider of satellite telecommunications in the region. Although its main business focus is the corporate and government sector, medium-term plans include expanding offerings to small and medium businesses (SOHO) and to the direct to home video market (DTH) with integrated IP services. Skynet plans to not only gain market share but expand the demand by offering high quality services at competitive prices. SkyNet’s headquarters are located in the World Trade Center in Bogota, Colombia.
