Hughes to Launch 100 Gbps High Throughput Satellite in 2012

Hughes Network Systems unveiled plans to launch a next-generation, high throughput satellite in the first quarter 2012 to expand its HughesNet broadband Internet service across North America. The new satellite is being designed to deliver over 100 Gbps of aggregate throughput and use an enhanced version of the IPoS standard. It will also employ a multi-spot beam, bent pipe Ka-band architecture.


Space Systems/Loral has been selected to manufacture the new Hughes satellite, based on its SSL 1300 platform, which has the proven flexibility for a broad range of applications and is expected to provide service for 15 years or more.


The new geostationary satellite will augment the SPACEWAY 3 satellite system, the world's first with on-board switching and routing, which Hughes put into commercial service in April 2008.


"This is a very exciting time for Hughes," said Pradman Kaul, chairman and CEO of Hughes. "In a little over a year since successfully launching HughesNet service on SPACEWAY 3, we are once again poised to push the envelope and bring a sophisticated, high throughput satellite to market -- based on cutting-edge industry standards, and with capabilities that position us well into the future as a successful integrated satellite service provider."
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