Gilat Satellite Networks has been awarded a new contract by the Colombian Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MINTIC) to provide broadband Internet connectivity to over 1,600 schools throughout the country's rural regions.

Valued at approximately $18.5 million, the project is hosted by the Ministry's Social Telecommunications Program ("Compartel") and the Ministry's "Fondo de Tecnologias de la Informacion y las Communicaciones", and is scheduled to commence in 2012, concluding by mid 2013.

Gilat's SkyEdge II solution, featuring the Company's innovative WebEnhance VSAT, will provide broadband connectivity featuring data rates of up to 2 Mbps.

The network is expected to connect 1,676 schools located in five separate districts across rural Colombia, and is part of a national bid for over 6,800 schools awarded to seven operators.

The program is part of the Colombian government's ongoing efforts to reduce the communication gap in Colombia, and further investment in improved access to advance communications services in schools.

"Thanks to these awards more than 6,800 rural schools in the country will have access to the Internet with twice or four times the speeds they enjoyed before.

More than 1,130,000 children and adolescents will have the same opportunities as urban students to use information technologies in their schools," said Diego Molano Vega, Minister of IT and communications.

"Gilat has been at the forefront of delivering communication services in Colombia for over a decade, and we are proud to be able to continue this important work and be a valid contributor to improving the lives of children across rural areas," said Amiram Levinberg, Gilat's CEO and Chairman of the Board.