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Satnews Daily
November 1st, 2013

Intelsat + GCI Extend Capacity A Healthy Boost To Underserved Alaskan Areas (SATCOM)


[SatNews] support broadband services to schools and medical clinics, as well as telemedicine applications for hospitals that are located in underserved areas

Intelsat S.A. (NYSE: I), announced today that General Communication, Inc. (GCI), the largest telecommunications company in Alaska, has signed a long term agreement for extended C- and Ku-band capacity on Intelsat’s Horizons 1 and Galaxy 18 satellites.

GCI uses Intelsat’s capacity for infrastructure to provide telephony, high speed Internet and video services to customers across Alaska. In particular, the agreement enables GCI to support broadband services to schools and medical clinics, as well as telemedicine applications for hospitals that are located in underserved areas of Alaska.

“We continue to rely on Intelsat for seamless, reliable and robust coverage across Alaska, a region that presents very complicated topographic and climatic challenges,” said Jimmy Sipes, GCI VP of Network Services and Chief Engineer. “Intelsat enables GCI to help close the digital divide in Alaska, bringing much-needed connectivity that supports mission-critical applications in remote communities.”

“GCI understands the importance of fully optimizing its technology for extremely advanced, high modulation solutions,” said Mark Rasmussen, Intelsat RVP of North America Sales. “GCI makes an important difference in providing life-line communication services to Alaskan consumers in areas where there would not have been any other options.”