Gilat Propels The Russian DTH Market Into Broadband Services

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ, TASE: GILT), a worldwide leader in satellite networking technology, solutions and services, announces that NTV-Plus has selected the broadband service developed by Eutelsat Networks and powered by Gilat's high-performance VSATs to offer high-speed Internet to DTH subscribers across the European part of the Russian Federation.

Gilat's satellite solution provides affordable high-quality broadband, leveraging multi-beam high throughput capacity on the Express AMU1/EUTELSAT 36C satellite, whose wide-beam capacity is already used by NTV-Plus for TV broadcasting.

The service is based on Gilat's leading broadband VSATs, Gemini (for enterprise) and the innovative Scorpio (for consumers), VSAT-in-a-Box outdoor terminal, both supporting self-install and automatic service activation.

DTH providers in Russia, looking to bring internet service to their subscribers, are embracing the fast growing broadband over satellite market. NTV-Plus has joined this flourishing market, offering Gilat's high-performance VSATs for internet service to their installed base. The Service is intended for both private consumers and corporate customers in unserved and underserved locations.

'As the significance of the Internet grows, and digital information becomes a key component of our personal and business lives, it is essential for us to provide high quality broadband services to our subscribers,' said Dmitry Mozzhegorov, Chief Information Officer at NTV-Plus. 'We are pleased to use Gilat's reliable satellite modem for this service and are looking forward to continued collaboration in the future.'

'Broadband over satellite has become a reality with HTS, now answering the market demand for affordable plentiful and quality data connectivity. We see more and more MNOs and DTH provides using broadband over satellite as a mainstream vehicle to acquire new consumers as well as to reduce churn. We are proud to be part of this 'broadband for the masses' revolution with our innovative leading technology,' said Michal Aharonov, VP Commercial at Gilat.

'We see great potential and steady growth of broadband delivery in our region, and are pleased to see NTV-Plus join this market leveraging our technology,' added Alexander Klimov, General Manager Russia at Gilat.