Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite networks and services, today announced HughesNet® Gen5 is now available via the GSA’s Satellite Subscription Services (IT Schedule 70). HughesNet Gen5 is the first and only U.S. satellite Internet service to offer Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-defined broadband speeds – 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps uploads – from coast-to-coast, and can now be easily contracted by federal, state and local government agencies.
“HughesNet Gen5 brings improved capabilities to the public sector by delivering not only high speed Internet access everywhere—such as for our rural schools and remote offices—but also as a satellite back-up to terrestrial networks for federal and state agencies,” said Tony Bardo, Hughes assistant vice president of government solutions. “This ensures greater network resiliency when disasters strike and more responsive emergency services.”
Cost-Efficient Broadband Connectivity
Today’s government agencies can be found in ex-urban and rural America as well as in downtown offices. Like for many businesses, there may be remote offices, labs, schools, park stations and research facilities that are outside of the reach of terrestrial broadband services employing fiber or cable access. With HughesNet Gen5 that problem is solved, as state and local government sites are now able to get broadband virtually anywhere in the contiguous United States and key parts of Alaska.
As importantly, rural schools and libraries can also now get high quality Internet service that is E-rate eligible, no matter their locations, with various data and maintenance plans available to meet their requirements.
Robust Path Diverse Back-up to Terrestrial Connectivity
Many government agencies currently rely on a single network path for connectivity to their sites. Given the importance of ensuring continuous connectivity among federal, state and local agencies, they should not depend solely on a single connectivity path.
This is especially true for terrestrial-based primary networks, which are vulnerable to outages or disruptions caused by inclement weather, construction accidents or other unforeseen setbacks. The new capabilities of HughesNet Gen5 provides agencies with a path-diverse back-up connection, allowing them to keep mission-critical applications online over satellite connections until the primary network outage is restored.
About Hughes Network Systems
Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is the global leader in broadband satellite technology and services for home and office. Its flagship high-speed satellite Internet service is HughesNet®, the world’s largest satellite network with over 1 million residential and business customers across North America and Brazil. For large enterprises and governments, the company’s HughesON® managed network services provide complete connectivity solutions employing an optimized mix of satellite and terrestrial technologies. The JUPITER™ System is the world’s most widely deployed High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) platform, operating on more than 20 satellites by leading service providers, delivering a wide range of broadband enterprise, mobility and cellular backhaul applications. To date, Hughes has shipped more than 5.5 million terminals to customers in over 100 countries, representing approximately 50 percent market share, and its technology is powering broadband services to aircraft around the world.
Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes operates sales and support offices worldwide, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), a premier global provider of satellite operations. For additional information about Hughes, please visit www.hughes.com and follow @Hughes_Corp on Twitter.
About EchoStar
EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) is a premier global provider of satellite communication solutions. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., and conducting business around the globe, EchoStar is a pioneer in secure communications technologies through its Hughes Network Systems and EchoStar Satellite Services business segments. For more information, visit echostar.com. Follow @EchoStar on Twitter.
