• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Nortis Cimecom Deploys Eutelsat D-STAR Satellite Broadband Service for 470 Schools Across Morocco

Posted on: Wednesday, 16 September 2009, 06:23 CDT

PARIS, September 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As part of a nationwide programme to modernise ICT capabilities in Moroccan schools, Nortis Cimecom, a leading VSAT operator and a longstanding partner of Eutelsat, has been selected by the Ministry for Education and the national telecommunications regulatory authority to deliver a satellite-based broadband service to schools beyond range of terrestrial networks.

This deployment programme forms part of a far-reaching national programme called 'Genie' driven by the Moroccan Ministry of Education to extend ICT infrastructure to schools for on-going teacher training programmes and Internet access to educational content for pupils of all ages.

Using Eutelsat's satellite-based broadband solution as a perfect complement to ADSL and 3G networks serving urban environments, Nortis Cimecom has been selected to equip 25% of schools in the first phase of the national programme. The company is consequently now deploying D-STAR in 470 schools in towns and villages across Morocco. The second phase of the 'Genie' programme is currently being assessed by the national telecommunications regulatory authority with the ultimate objective to deliver broadband to a total of 21,000 schools.

D-STAR is a professional satellite broadband service operating totally independently from terrestrial infrastructure. The D-STAR equipment consists of a 96cm dish and a DVD-sized D-STAR terminal which will connect up to 10 PCs per school. Using the steerable beam on Eutelsat's W6 satellite, which provides high-power coverage of North-West Africa, each dish will communicate directly with Skylogic's hub in Turin (Italy) which is connected to the Internet backbone.

Commenting on the programme, Anas Zemmouri, General Director of Nortis Cimecom said: "This schools network further broadens the scope of the D-STAR service, which has principally built its reputation on enterprise solutions for businesses located beyond urban environments served by terrestrial networks. With the need to connect schools within the framework of the 'Genie' programme, and on a broader scale, local communities for universal broadband programmes, the value of satellites is increasing for accompanying the social and economic development of the rural population of Morocco's 35 million inhabitants."

Arduino Patacchini, Eutelsat's Multimedia Director, added. "This contract with Nortis Cimecom is further evidence of the importance of satellites for completing national broadband programmes. The satellite component of the Moroccan government's objective to engrain ICT in the education system will ensure that all schools will benefit from fast access to digital services. We are delighted that our D-STAR service has met the long-term requirements of the 'Genie' programme and the high expectations of Nortis Cimecom, a reference for wireless communications networks in Morocco."

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 27 satellites that provide coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues. At 30 June 2009, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting almost 3,200 television channels and 1,100 radio stations. More than 1,000 channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East which serves over 123 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Group's satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates services through teleports in France and Italy that serve enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ 610 commercial, technical and operational employees from 28 countries.

SOURCE Eutelsat Communications

Source: PR Newswire

More News in this Category