Mexican Government Works with PanAmSat To Expand Country's Largest Broadband VSAT Network
September 07 2005 - 10:01AM
PR Newswire (US)
Satellite-Based Network Brings Educational Programming, Community
and Government News, Healthcare Information to Entire Country
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PanAmSat (NYSE:PA)
announced today that it had signed a multi-year agreement with the
Mexican Department of Transportation and Communications (SCT), to
expand the e-Mexico program, a far-reaching initiative that is
delivering high-speed digital technology and Internet services to
the entire Mexican population. PanAmSat de Mexico, a strategic
alliance between Grupo Pegaso and PanAmSat, delivered the space
segment for Phase 1 of this Program to connect 3,200 public sites
to serve 2,445 municipalities in Mexico via the Galaxy 3C satellite
in only two years. "Over the past several years, it has become
evident to us that countries in the world without a vast
terrestrial network for communications would be the perfect
candidates for a satellite-based one. Countries such as Mexico can
use this type of system to support communications, Internet and
television services. When the Mexican government approached us
regarding the development of such a system, we readily agreed. Our
premise that this is a growth market for PanAmSat was confirmed. In
less than seven months in 2003, a large number of municipalities in
Mexico now have access, for the first time, to high-speed networks
that are vital in providing basic education, health, emergency, law
enforcement and other services. The impact on these communities,
and the country, is enormous," said Joe Wright, CEO of PanAmSat.
Wright continued, "As e-Mexico's popularity increased, users
generated additional demand and over time new applications were
introduced. The expanded first phase of the e-Mexico program will
be used by an increasing number of individuals that previously were
unable to efficiently communicate with the outside world,
generating commercial demand. As that happens, we will be there."
The e-Mexico network consists of three major services: IP
connectivity, computer systems and IP content. The combination of
these three forces enables citizens in remote areas of the country
to access educational programs, medical and community information
as well as information about local and national government through
a satellite-based network. PanAmSat supports the connectivity
portion of the program by providing the satellite capacity
necessary to interconnect the rapidly growing number of users at
the community centers where VSAT terminals have been installed
across the country. "PanAmSat's support has been of great help,"
said Jorge Alvarez Hoth, deputy minister of communications for the
SCT. "It was an ambitious program from the start with the dream of
connecting 3,200 VSAT terminals to serve 2,445 municipalities in
Mexico by means of the deployment of Digital Community Centers
(DCCs). So far, we are satisfied with the service and support
provided by PanAmSat since the beginning of this program. Now, due
to the demand for the e-Mexico service from the citizens of Mexico,
we are in need of additional capacity from PanAmSat and their
Galaxy 3-C satellite. Currently, e-Mexico has integrated in all its
satellite stages 7,200 DCCs across our country plus 300 additional
DCCs on terrestrial networks. Our goal is to reach 10,000 DCCs by
the end of the current administration." Within Latin America,
PanAmSat has collaborated with various governments to provide
capacity for rural communications. In Peru, PanAmSat worked
together with the government on the Huascaran project to provide
distance learning through 8000 VSAT sites for remote villages
throughout the country. Through its PAS-1R satellite, PanAmSat also
plays a key role in the COHCIT project in Honduras that is
sponsored by the Honduran Council of Science and Technology. This
VSAT distance-learning initiative brings cultural and technological
programming to out-lying communities throughout the Central
American nation. Internationally, PanAmSat has teamed up with the
Liberty Foundation to deliver Mindset Learn's educational and
healthcare channels via satellite across South Africa. Hosted on
PanAmSat's PAS-7 Indian Ocean Region spacecraft, the educational
network provides lessons to primary and secondary students in
remote regions of the country. The healthcare channel broadcasts to
clinics, educating patients and healthcare workers on important
health issues such as the Aids epidemic. About PanAmSat de Mexico
PanAmSat de Mexico is a Mexican company that is 49 percent owned by
PanAmSat Corporation and 51 percent owned by Corporativo W.com, S.
de R.L. de C.V., a holding company created by Mr. Alejandro
Burillo, majority owner of the private equity investment firm Grupo
Pegaso. PanAmSat de Mexico has offices in Mexico City, Mexico, and
is the exclusive provider of PanAmSat satellite services within
Mexico. About PanAmSat Through its owned and operated fleet of 25
satellites, PanAmSat (NYSE:PA) is a leading global provider of
video, broadcasting and network distribution and delivery services.
It transmits 1,991 television channels worldwide and, as such, is
the leading carrier of standard and high-definition signals. In
total, the Company's in-orbit fleet is capable of reaching over 98
percent of the world's population through cable television systems,
broadcast affiliates, direct-to-home operators, Internet service
providers and telecommunications companies. In addition, PanAmSat
supports the largest concentration of satellite-based business
networks in the U.S., as well as specialized communications
services in remote areas throughout the world. For more
information, visit the Company's web site at
http://www.panamsat.com/. DATASOURCE: PanAmSat Corporation CONTACT:
Kathryn Lancioni, 203-210-8649, for PanAmSat Web site:
http://www.panamsat.com/
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