Gilat looks to complete connectivity work in Peru's Amazonas this year

Satellite broadband provider Gilat is progressing “faster than planned” with a US$17mn expansion in Peru’s Amazonas region and expects to finish implementation before the end of the year, CEO Adi Sfadia said during the company’s Q2 results call. 

Announced in January, the government contract involves connecting 35 new localities, 37 schools and six clinics as an extension of the original US$153mn project.

Gilat will also implement free Wi-Fi hotspots and a community telecenter that includes computers, printers and internet services for 10 years. 

Sfadia also said the Israeli company expects to move to the operational phase in the last region of the original project during this quarter. 

“We are expecting additional progress [in Peru] in the next few months,” he said. This includes the maturity of several large RFPs and project extensions. 

The company has also a US$10mn contract from the Internet Para Todos IPT consortium to deliver backhaul services in rural areas of Peru. 

On a global scale, Gilat’s Q2 revenue was US$76.6mn, up 13% year-on-year. Operating income fell from US$5.4mn to US$2.8mn and net income was US$1.3mn, down from US$4.3mn.