Hughes Signs Xplornet for Echostar XIX Broadband over Canada

Xplornet Communications, Canada's largest rural broadband provider, signed a lifetime lease for all of the Canadian satellite broadband capacity on Hughes' Echostar XIX, a next-generation high throughput satellite due for launch in mid-2016. In addition to satellite capacity, Xplornet will take delivery of satellite gateways, operational and support services and consumer user terminals in a program that is expected to be worth more than $200 million.

Built by Space Systems Loral, EchoStar XIX will have over 160 Gbps throughput, approximately 50 percent more capacity than EchoStar XVII which was launched in 2012, and is the primary platform supporting over 916,000 HughesNet users across the USA. The new satellite is being designed with next-generation architecture with more than 120 spot beams, facilitating the delivery of high-quality, high-speed services for at least 15 years.

"This agreement for all of the Canadian broadband capacity on the upcoming Echostar XIX satellite is another milestone in our long and successful relationship with Hughes," said Allison Lenehan, CEO of Xplornet. He added, "This capacity will enable us to continue to meet the growing demands of our rural customers. We are investing to deliver on the promise of making faster, more affordable high-speed Internet service available for every Canadian."

http://www.xplornet.com