TIM Brasil has selected Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ, TASE: GILT) satellite backhaul solution to enable 4G services to unserved areas, such as highways and small towns, as well as to the agribusiness IoT market — initially, Gilat will supply 1,000 VSATs to complement TIM’s cellular coverage program, “4G TIM in the Field.”
Further to “4G TIM in the field” project, already providing connectivity to major farm and mill partners, TIM Brasil is planning a complete national coverage calling for expanding its 4G services inland to increase productivity of the farming industry market in rural Brazil. The project allows communication between the field and the office, addressing one of the main challenges of the agribusiness market. The project provides robust real-time connectivity, automation, and ultimately delivering products faster and to the right markets.
In partnership with TIM, Gilat will supply a 4G backhaul over a multi-spot beam Ku-band satellite to enable reach to the most remote areas of Brazil. The satellite backhaul will support the agribusiness IoT market as well as extending coverage to highways and improving the quality of life of the region’s population, by enabling access to 4G mobile connectivity for the first time.
Marco Di Costanzo, Engineering Director at TIM Brasil, said the partnership with Gilat will enable TIM Brasil to use the “4G TIM in the Field’ project to extend its 4G coverage from the coastline into the country for the benefit of the agribusiness IoT market. Gilat’s satellite backhaul solution will allow the 4G network expansion for connectivity of machines and operators to real-time control and monitoring of harvesters and agricultural tractors, ensuring cost-effective decisions, better crop management and greater speed, efficiency and productivity in the production flow.
Tobias Dezordi, Regional VPt Latin America at Gilat, noted that the company is delighted to support TIM Brasil’s vision of extending 4G coverage inland to the rural areas of Brazil for the benefit of the agribusiness IoT market,. TIM Brasil’s selection of Gilat further validates Gilat's vision that LTE cellular backhauling over satellite provides affordable, high quality broadband connectivity, solidifying Gilat’s LTE backhauling leadership and demonstrating the company's technological superiority in supporting more and more applications, such as highways and the fast growing IoT market.