Gilat to upgrade Panama VSAT broadband network

Cable and Wireless Panama intends to expand its existing VSAT broadband network with the help of satellite service provider Gilat Satellite Networks.

The two partner companies will install a Gilat Sky-Edge II satellite broadband network to provide broadband Internet and telephony connectivity to all of Panama. Panamanians will be able to access Internet applications and telephony services through this new network.

Under the current network expansion,  Cable and Wireless Panama will deploy solar-powered Sky Edge II VSATs across the country. Gilat will install, maintain, and operate the hub equipment and VoIP gateways. Telesat's TelStar 11N satellite will provide the  Cable and Wireless Panama-Gilat broadband solution with new outbound capacity.

SkyEdge II is a Gilat multi-service platform that uses DVB-S2 and DVB-RCS to deliver high-quality voice, broadband data, and video services for many types of environments. Cellular backhaul, enterprises, government network applications, and rural networks will all benefit from the planned upgraded speed and quality.

Cable and Wireless Panama has been using Gilat's SkyEdge and SkyEdge II products to provide satellite-based services since 2005. The two companies jointly operate over 1,300 sites in Panama, which make the Latin American country's satellite network very robust.