[SatNews] Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq:GILT) has been selected by Ethiopian Telecommunication Corp. (ETC), Ethiopia's national telecom operator, to provide satellite communications equipment which will be deployed as part of the nationwide SchoolNet project. SchoolNet is a satellite-based network which provides Internet connectivity as well as TV-broadcast educational content to secondary schools across Ethiopia.

The network has successfully enabled students in hundreds of rural schools to enjoy equal learning opportunities such as those of their colleagues in urban schools throughout the country. ETC is now expanding the network to serve several hundred additional schools and will integrate Gilat's satellite communications equipment as part of this expansion. Gilat has enjoyed a successful business relationship with ETC for close to 12 years. Recently, Gilat announced that it is providing an upgrade to ETC's existing Gilat VSAT network to enable ETC to deliver advanced broadband services, which include video and data-centric applications, to meet the growing demands of its enterprise and government customers. ETC is also deploying Gilat's VSATs at remote community centers nationwide to provide citizens with toll-quality telephony and reliable broadband internet access.

Gilat's SkyEdge and SkyEdge II multi-service platforms enable the delivery of high-quality voice, broadband data and video services for different environments including enterprises, rural networks, cellular backhaul and government network applications. The newest addition to Gilat's SkyEdge II portfolio is NetEdge(tm), a dedicated solution for multi-star networks, specifically designed to meet the needs of corporate networks and cellular-backhaul applications.