Thai communication major Shin Satellite and Bagan Cybertech IDC &Teleport, Myanmar have signed a service and procurement contract for purchasing a complete iPSTAR system package, including an iPSTAR gateway and 5,000 terminals.

Bagan is planning to deploy and implement iPSTAR ground system with Thaicom for the provision of rural telephony services throughout Myanmar by the fourth quarter of 2002.

Under the contact, Shin Satellite and Bagan will jointly set up the iPSTAR gateway which is expected to come on line by the Q4 2002; Bagan will be responsible for its operation and maintenance. The first 200 of 5,000 iPSTAR user terminals will be adopted for rural telephony services using the current gateway at the Thaicom Teleport and DTH Center, Lad Lum Kaew, Pathumthani. Regardless of the terrain, the deployment of iPSTAR will allow Bagan to provide services via satellite covering the whole of the telecommunication infrastructure in Myanmar, according to an official release.

The iPSTAR system which uses the most advanced technology available, would provide extremely advanced satellite technology with internet protocol-based applications that will serve the urgent national needs for basic telephony services in rural areas in Myanmar.