Huges Comm bags VSAT connectivity deal with SBI

Hughes Communications India Ltd, a provider of broadband satellite and managed network services, yesterday said that it has won a contract worth Rs22.5 crore to deploy a network of 2,880 VSATs for State Bank of India, the country's largest lender, to connect its off-site ATMs across the country.

Spread over five years, the contract includes deployment of a turnkey network which encompasses system integration, satellite bandwidth and network management. This project is a part of SBI's ambitious project "25000 ATM" in which the bank envisages to double its ATM based from 12,250 ATMs to 25,000 by March 2010.

As a Managed Network Service Provider, Hughes will offer Secure VSAT-based connectivity to SBI with backhaul to the bank's data centre and disaster recovery locations. Around 2000 ATMs to be installed by SBI's associate banks will also be included in the contract, the company said in a press release in Mumbai.

So far, Hughes has connected over 6,500 core banking service branches and around 4500 ATMs in the country using its technology.

Speaking about the deal, Shivaji Chatterjee, vice-president, enterprise, of Hughes Communications said, ''We are pleased to strengthen our longstanding relationship with SBI from providing connectivity for their CBS branches/kiosks to extend its ATM network across the country today.

''Satellite broadband has been the backbone of connectivity for the Indian banking industry and Hughes is proud to have connected more than 6500 CBS branches and approx 4500 ATMs/kiosks for various banks in the country using this technology. After completion of this project, total banking sites of Hughes would be touching 15,000.''