SPEEDCAST PARTNERS W ITH SUPERNET AND COMTECH TO DELIVER CELLULAR BACKHAUL SERVICES IN PAKISTAN

SpeedCast and Supernet awarded multi-year contracts to provide cellular backhaul services to leading GSM service providers in Pakistan
SpeedCast, Asia’s leading satellite telecommunications service provider, together with partner Supernet, today announced the award of two multi-year contracts to provide their CelCast™ cellular backhaul service for more than 30 sites in Pakistan. SpeedCast and Supernet selected Comtech EF Data, the global leader in satellite bandwidth efficiency and link optimization, and leveraged their market-leading modems to deliver a highly optimized and efficient cellular backhaul solution for their customers.
SpeedCast and Supernet partnered to deliver a high-quality GSM backhaul network in Pakistan, which is now utilized by two of the leading GSM service providers to extend their reach in the mountainous northern areas and far-flung remote areas in the south of Pakistan.
Cellular backhaul projects are substantially more complex than basic IP networks, because of the real-time nature of the voice and data traffic. Network implementation was particularly challenging for 20 of the sites, because it involved stringent implementation timelines and the requirement of minimum outage during the changeover from the incumbent service providers to the Supernet and SpeedCast network. Moreover, the operators have strict service level agreements for performance, to guarantee a high level of quality for their users.
SpeedCast and Supernet were awarded the new contracts, due to the quality of their service offering and their local presence in the region. One of the new contracts includes an additional 10 sites on an existing network serviced by SpeedCast and Supernet, in some of the most remote areas of Pakistan. The SpeedCast and Supernet team worked closely with their customers to tailor solutions to meet their needs while guaranteeing the quality and reliability of the network.
“Cellular operators are increasingly outsourcing their satellite-based cellular backhaul requirements today. We are pleased to have partnered with Supernet to deliver our cellular backhaul service in Pakistan,” stated Pierre-Jean Beylier, CEO of SpeedCast. “Supernet is an experienced partner with a strong local presence, who understands the requirements of such demanding networks.”
“These projects are a welcome addition to our rich portfolio of GSM backhaul over satellite service in Pakistan. We are pleased to be working with SpeedCast and Comtech EF Data to deliver bandwidth efficiencies and cost-effective expansion options for our existing and new customers. These recent contracts are a testament to the quality and reliability of our service,” stated Hamid Nawaz, COO of Supernet. “It is rewarding to partner with a leader in Asia to deliver a compelling solution for customers in Pakistan and surrounding regions.”
SpeedCast’s CelCast™ product is a cellular traffic backhaul solution that enables mobile operators to expand their 2G or 3G coverage in a rapid and cost-effective manner. This managed service allows cellular operators to deliver service to remote and hard-to-reach areas while minimizing their capital expenditure and avoiding significant increases in their operating expenditures. SpeedCast’s CelCast™ is deployed and in service in multiple countries throughout Asia and the Middle East.
Comtech EF Data’s CDM-625 Advanced Satellite Modem combines advanced forward error correction with DoubleTalk® Carrier-in-Carrier® bandwidth compression for maximum savings under all conditions. DoubleTalk® Carrier-in-Carrier®, based on Raytheon Applied Signal Technology’s patented “Adaptive Cancellation” technology, allows transmit and receive carriers of a duplex link to share the same transponder space. The combination of advanced technologies enables users to minimize OPEX/CAPEX and maximize throughput/availability without using additional transponder resources. The CX-U Series brings together access device and cellular backhaul traffic optimization, offering a variety of interfaces and transmission options.
“Mobile operators globally have deployed our best in class, fully integrated technologies to support optimized satellite-based mobile backhaul,” said Daniel Enns, Senior Vice President Marketing & Business Development of Comtech EF Data.