Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite networks and services, reported today that it has begun system level testing of its new EchoStar XIX satellite – the world’s highest capacity broadband satellite – following successful placement into its permanent geosynchronous orbital slot at 97.1° West longitude.
Designed with Hughes JUPITER™ System high-throughput technology, EchoStar XIX is a multi-spot beam, Ka-band satellite that will power HughesNet® Gen5, the next generation of America’s #1 high-speed satellite Internet service. From its 97.1° orbital slot, EchoStar XIX’s 138 beams will provide coverage for high-speed Internet service to homes and small businesses in the continental United States, Alaska, Mexico and parts of Canada and Central America.
“Hughes is proud to continue its heritage of innovation and leadership with the development and launch of the world’s most advanced broadband satellite,” said Pradman Kaul, president of Hughes. “The successful positioning of EchoStar XIX is a significant milestone as it sets the stage for introducing our fifth-generation service, further pushing the envelope to deliver the highest quality satellite Internet experience available.”
EchoStar XIX joins EchoStar XVII, which has been in service since 2012, and will more than double HughesNet’s current capacity and support faster speeds and provide more data for today’s online activities. HughesNet currently has more than 1 million subscribers and was ranked first in delivering advertised speeds for the second year in a row by the Federal Communication Commission, as detailed in its “Measuring Broadband in America” 2016 report.
Now in geosynchronous orbit at 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) above the earth, the latest-generation Ka-band satellite was manufactured by Space Systems Loral and launched on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida on December 18, 2016. Hughes expects to begin delivering service to customers over EchoStar XIX by the end of the first quarter of 2017.
For more information please visit www.hughesnet.com/Gen5.
About Hughes Network Systems
Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes) is the global leader in satellite broadband for home and office, delivering innovative technology solutions and a comprehensive suite of HughesON™ managed services for enterprises and governments worldwide. HughesNet® is the #1 high-speed satellite Internet service in the marketplace, with offerings to suit every budget. To date, Hughes has shipped more than 5 million systems to customers in over 100 countries, representing approximately 50 percent market share. Its products employ global standards approved by the TIA, ETSI and ITU organizations, including IPoS/DVB-S2, RSM-A, and GMR-1.
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 and digital TV solutions. For additional information about Hughes, please visit www.hughes.com.
About EchoStar
EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) is a premier global provider of satellite and video delivery solutions. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., and conducting business around the globe, EchoStar is a pioneer in secure communications technologies through its EchoStar Satellite Services, EchoStar Technologies and Hughes Network Systems business segments. For more information, visit echostar.com. Follow @EchoStar on Twitter.
