Enciclomedia Brings Together Pegaso Banda Ancha, PanAmSat, and ViaSat to Provide Internet Connectivity to Mexico’s Schools

WASHINGTON, DC, Feb. 8, 2006/Satnews Daily/ — Mexico’s Enciclomedia Internet interconnectivity program is bringing together Pegaso Banda Ancha and PanAmSat (NYSE: PA) to deliver broadband satellite Internet to over 13,000 elementary schools throughout the country.

ViaSat (NASDAQ: VSAT) has also finalized a contract to supply its SurfBeam DOCSIS-for-satellite broadband satellite networking system to Mexico-based Pegaso Banda Ancha for the 13,000-plus school sites. ViaSat said the deliveries of the network hub and terminals have already begun.

The Pegaso Banda Ancha network will connect to the Internet backbone through the PanAmSat teleport in Atlanta, Georgia, using extended Ku-band capacity on the PAS-1R satellite. PAS-1R, one of the largest and most powerful commercial geostationary satellites ever launched, offers an expanded and enhanced reach throughout the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa. The Atlanta teleport is PanAmSat’s primary satellite transmissions gateway to Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America. It provides crucial turnaround services between the Atlantic Ocean Region and the U.S.

“Through PanAmSat’s fleet, Pegaso Banda Ancha’s satellite-delivered communications network and ViaSat SurfBeam terminals, our companies’ efforts will help contribute to the roll-out of Enciclomedia, bringing today’s technological advances in education to young students in Mexico,” said Joe Wright, CEO,  PanAmSat.. 

The mission of the Enciclomedia initiative is to modernize rural, suburban and urban schools throughout Mexico by installing electronic blackboards, computers, UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) and sensors to monitor the classroom activity. Initially, Pegaso Banda Ancha will provide the interconnectivity to monitor the classroom as well as Internet access. Additional throughput and bandwidth can be provided as needed.

Jorge Vespoli, vice president of worldwide sales for ViaSat, said the project is unprecedented in terms of its scale, leading technology and the speed of deployment and activation.

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