HISPASAT, the Spanish satellite telecommunications operator, together with the Colombian satellite services provider Bansat, is helping to provide the communications for the “Journey to the heart of the Atrato”. This expedition, which is organised by the Colombian government, transports humanitarian material and personnel to towns located on the banks of the third largest river in the country. Thanks to this initiative, which started up on 5 September and will continue until the 27, more than 4,000 families from the towns of Riosucio, Carmen del Darién, Bojayá, Vigía del Fuerte and Beté -in the departments of Caldas, Chocó and Antioquia- will receive kits for students and health and school supplies as well as medical attention provided by the specialists taking part in the mission.
Thanks to the satellite connectivity provided by Hispasat and Bansat, the members of the expedition, who work for public agencies like the ministries of Defence and Health as well as private companies, will be able to set up the communications they need in surroundings that lack terrestrial infrastructure. Satellite technology is ideal for these types of scenarios. They provide universal coverage throughout their footprint and the VSAT terminal can be quickly installed to offer a high-quality Internet connection.
Leonardo Domínguez, HISPASAT's Country Manager for Colombia and Sales Director for the Northern Cone of South America, said that “Hispasat is committed to the effort carried out by Colombian society and its government to bridge the divide between the country's large cities and more remote towns and to promote progress in its rural areas. That's why it is a source of pride to contribute to helping make initiatives like this Journey to the heart of the Atrato a success”.
Hispasat, which has had a subsidiary in Colombia since 2013, has contributed to promoting digital inclusion and development in the country for several years. In 2014, the company started providing satellite capacity as part of the government-run VIVE Digital project. Today the company provides connectivity services in more than 700 points in Amazonas, Boyacá, Caldas, Cundinamarca, Guainía, Quindío, Risaralda and Vaupés. In addition to the collaboration with Bansat, the company has installed WiFi hotspots in remote towns in the departments of Bolívar and Sucre to offer satellite connectivity services on mobile devices in the community by acquiring prepaid passes.