Luanda, Angola, 05 June – Angola Telecom has hired Israeli company Gilat Satellite Networks to set up in Luanda a satellite communications center in order to expand the capacity of the Angolan company’s fixed line and mobile network, the companies said.

In a statement, the companies said that the contract, the value of which is being kept confidential, outlines that Gilat will provide the state operator with satellite modems equipped with high-quality modulation systems and mechanisms for anticipating errors that “reduce the costs of satellite transmission.”

As well as the equipment, the Israeli technology company will install an integrated satellite communications solution which will make it possible to, “expand the capacity of the existing fixed and cellular infrastructure.”

In May, Angola’s largest mobile communications operator, Unitel, said it would invest 41.5 million euros in expanding its GSM network.

The agreement between Angola Telecom and Gilat includes installing a radio access solution at several points all over the country which will make it possible to be«ring together GSM and 3G capacity, opening up the possibility of introducing third generation mobile communications in Angola in the future.

Gilat, which is listed on US technology index Nasdaq, is a global satellite communications equipment, namely VSAT.

The number of cellular phone users in Angola rose 33 percent last year to 1.6 million people, according to figures from Angolan telecom regulator INACOM.

Around 70 percent of users are located in Luanda, where a quarter of the Angolan population lives. (macauhub)