Hughes Network Systems Europe has signed a contract with Telefonica de Espana, a leading Spanish telecommunications services provider, to further expand its Direcway satellite services.
The agreement adds Voice over IP (VoIP) services to the existing Telefonica Direcway network. In addition, HNS Europe will supply up to 15,000 DW6000 broadband terminals enabled with the DW6040 Voice Appliance.
Under the economic sponsorship of the European Union (EU), Telefonica is implementing the Direcway VoIP solution to replace the existing obsolete rural telephony network, as part of the TRAC-replacement program.
This program calls for providing Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) services to consumers in rural areas of Spain in compliance with the Universal Service Obligation. In addition, broadband Internet services will also be provided in rural areas.
"HNS Europe is very proud to have been selected for the satellite portion of this important initiative. We have worked closely with Telefonica for many years to provide its customers across Spain with satellite solutions that are reliable, flexible, and cost effective," said Luigi Pagni, vice president for Hughes Network Systems Europe.
"We are grateful for Telefonica's continued confidence and trust in HNS to provide superior technology at reasonable cost."
"Telefonica chose the HNS solution because of better equipment performance, better pricing, minimal implementation risks, and lower operational costs," said Enrique Salvatierra Jimeno, director, submarine cable and satellite, infrastructure engineering department at Telefonica de Espana. "Because of our long standing relationship with HNS, we are confident they can meet our requirements."
Installation of the 15,000 remote sites began in December of 2003, with completion slated for 2006.
