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OneWeb, the global communications company, whose goal is to connect everyone everywhere, announces the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bring high-speed, low-latency internet coverage to Georgia with JSC Silknet, a leading convergent Georgian telecommunications company. The partnership agreement was signed by the Chairman of Silknet’s supervisory board, George Ramishvili, and OneWeb’s CEO, Adrian Steckel.
OneWeb’s distribution partnership with Silknet will provide local telecom operators with widespread high-speed broadband internet coverage in Georgia, including remote and inaccessible areas.
Adrian Steckel, CEO of OneWeb, said, “In a world where businesses need to be always connected to the Cloud, but not everywhere has suitable geographies or can afford expensive fibre connectivity, OneWeb’s transformative communications network will make it possible to access high-speed internet, anywhere on Earth. I am very pleased to take the first and important step to partner with Silknet. OneWeb will help to bridge the digital divide in Georgia and across the Caucasian region.”
George Ramishvili, Chairman of Silknet’s supervisory board, added, “Silknet has always strived for implementing the latest technologies. We’ve signed the Memorandum of Understanding on partnership with the company which has started building revolutionary, space connectivity network. As a result of this partnership an additional digital source of connectivity will appear in Georgia making the existing technologies complete, rather than competing with them. This creates a unique opportunity when it comes to remote places, where fibre optic infrastructure is not accessible due to different circumstances.”
At the end of February 2019, OneWeb successfully launched its first batch of low Earth Orbiting satellites. The next launch is scheduled for February 2020 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan and this signals the beginning of regular launches of more than 30 satellites at a time to build OneWeb’s initial constellation of 650 satellites.
Silknet is one of the largest, convergent telecom operators in Georgia. Combining the fixed and mobile networks, Silknet today provides a full range of telecommunication services (broadband, IPTV, fixed line, mobile voice and data) to over 40% of the population and businesses across the entire country. Early in 2019 Silknet also raised U.S.$200 million from international investors through a Eurobond and shows strong financial performance. Silknet is rated B1/Stable by Moody’s and B+/Stable by Fitch Ratings.
