Market Attention
One of the most active markets in which the Company is engaged is the cellular backhaul market. Mobile operators, both originating in Europe and those locally-based, are increasing their service coverage beyond the urban areas and into rural and more sparsely populated regions. Gilats satellite-based VSAT technologies provide optimal backhaul solutions for cellular operators.
Advancements in VSAT technology in the last few years have made it possible for service providers to offer more attractive backhauling offerings based on this technology. In addition, Gilat is working closely with cellular network equipment vendors so customers can enjoy integrated and certified solutions. Countries in MENA and the Mediterranean Basin can certainly benefit from our expertise.
There is an increasing need for additional broadband services, as traditional telephony shifts to the Internet and to cellular networks. The latter, specifically, are seeking to augment their backhaul capacities, which is a maintstay of Gilats global expertise. Indeed, new government networks and projects are easier to implement if managed by VSAT applications.
Defense and Homeland Security agencies are also looking for satellite communications to answer security, military and emergency response requirements. They typically look for mobile solutions or those that can be rapidly deployed in the field. Very high transmission rates and guaranteed bandwidth for real-time applications are key requirements as well.
Cellular backhaul, as stated, is as an important business driver. According to NSRs report on Wireless Backhaul via Satellite, the main regions that will use satellite backhaul services will be Asia, Latin America, MENA and sub-Saharan Africa. A number of Gilats commitments in this sector include arrangements with leading communications providers Gateway Communications and Orange Business Services.
Gateway + Orange Deployments
Gateway Communications, a leading supplier of pan-African wholesale telecommunications, has installed a Gilat SkyEdge II hub at their Network Operations Center in Belgium to deploy their services across Africa. These services include cellular backhaul applications, broadband access for telecommunications companies, backbone restoration, and rural telephony. Gilats SATCOM solutions are designed to meet the requirements of multi-star networks as well as cellular backhaul applications, a perfect fit for the growing telecommunication requirements of operators and end users across Africa.
For Gateway customers throughout Africa, this further enhances the provision of telecommunication services to mobile and fixed line operators, connecting them within Africa, and to the rest of the world.
One of the advantages of this multi-star topology is that Orange Business Services can manage the network from their Bercenay teleport in France, all the while maintaining direct, single-hop connectivity between the SkyEdge II terminals installed within the GSM network in Niger.
Together, the MENA markets provide opportunities for Gilat to offer satellite-based connectivity for communications. Expertise as a provider of satellite-based communication solutions well positions the Company to support the continents communications growth from North and sub-Saharan Africa to Latin, North, and South America markets to the Mediterranean, all of Asia, and around the world.