Hughes Network Systems, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar.[4] It is headquartered in Germantown, Maryland and provides satellite internet service.[5] HughesNet has over a million subscribers in the Americas in late 2023,[6] down from 1.4 million in early 2022.[7]
Hughes Communications was founded in 1971 under the name Digital Communication Corporation (DCC)[8] by a group of seven engineers and a lawyer led by John Puente and Dr. Burton Edelson,[9] who all previously worked together at Comsat Laboratories.[10] With $40,000 in startup capital,[10][11] the company operated from a garage in Rockville, Maryland, designing circuit boards for telecom related products.[10][12]
By 1977, Digital Communications Corp. had 250 employees and $10.6 million in revenue.[13] In 1978, Digital Communications Corp. was acquired by Microwave Associates for an undisclosed sum,[13][a] becoming MA/COM-DCC and began developing satellite related products.[14] The company invented the very small aperture terminal (VSAT) in 1985.[15] That year, the company sold its first VSAT network to Wal-Mart, which used the “technology to connect retail stores in rural areas.”[16] According to SatMagazine, “the global VSAT market is estimated to reach $10 billion by 2021.”[17] In 1987, MA/COM-DCC was acquired by Hughes Aircraft Corporation for $105 million and renamed Hughes Communications.[18]
In 2004, News Corp acquired a controlling interest in Hughes through a $6.5 billion purchase intended primarily for its DirecTV unit.[8] DirecTV also began selling off its ownership interests, culminating in a $100 million sale to a private equity firm.[8] As a result, Hughes became a wholly owned subsidiary of SkyTerra Communications Inc., which was controlled by the investment firm.[8] Hughes Communications was spun-off as an independent public company in 2007 and was acquired by EchoStar for about $2 billion in 2011.[19][b]
Technology and servicesedit
HughesNet is Hughes Network Systems' satellite-based broadband internet service. As of 2018, Hughes controls 69 percent of the market for residential satellite-based internet connections, which are mostly used by rural customers out-of-reach of wired infrastructure.[21] Hughes also markets its services to government, business, and military.[22]
Satellite systemsedit
In 2012, Hughes launched the Jupiter (stylized as JUPITER) System, Hughes' VSAT ground system that provides high-performance terminals, increased gateway architecture, and advanced air interface[23] for both high-throughput and conventional satellites. The Jupiter System supports applications such as broadband Internet and Intranet access, community Wi-Fi hotspots, cellular backhaul, digital signage and mobility, including airborne services.[24]
Through its Jupiter Aero System, an integrated system of airborne and ground equipment and software, Hughes provides broadband access to aircraft.[25] As of 2018, about 1,000 aircraft carry Hughes technology on board.[26]
In March 2018, Hughes announced improvements to the Jupiter system, doubling the throughput of HT2xxx terminals to more than 200 Mbit/s and increasing capacity.[27]
Hughes HX and HT satellite broadband platforms are used for broadband IP services, high speed internet, VoIP, and video by telecom providers around the world and the military.[25][28][29][30][31]
Hughes has deployed more than 9 million VSAT terminals of all types in more than 100 countries, representing more than 50 percent market share.[32]
Satellite servicesedit
Hughes satellite backhaul of cellular service extends 4G/LTE service to remote and rural areas around the world, specifically where conventional backhaul is difficult or costly due to geography and terrain.[33][34][35][36]
Hughes cellular backhaul applications include a 4G/LTE optimization capability that yields up to 60 percent bandwidth savings.[36]
HughesNetedit
In 1996, Hughes introduced a satellite Internet service for consumers and small businesses. The service was originally known as DirecPC[37] and was renamed Direcway in May 2002.[38] In 2012, with Hughes' first offering of broadband satellite Internet, it was renamed HughesNet.[39] In March 2017, Hughes became the first satellite-based internet service provider to meet the Federal Communications Commission's definition of "broadband" with HughesNet Gen5 after launching the EchoStar XVII and XIX high-throughput satellites.
In 2016, Hughes expanded HughesNet into Brazil, marking its first international expansion of the service.[40] It expanded into Colombia in September 2017,[41] into Peru in October 2018,[42] into Ecuador in December 2018,[43] and into Mexico and Chile in 2019.[44][45]
The FCC Measuring Broadband America report ranked HughesNet number one among all internet service providers for meeting or exceeding advertised download speeds for four years in a row from 2014 through 2017. For three out of four years (2014, 2015 and 2017), HughesNet ranked number one for meeting or exceeding both download and upload advertised speeds.[46] HughesNet was named the Best Rural Internet Provider of 2022 and Best Satellite Internet Provider of 2022 by U.S. News & World Report 360 Reviews.[47]
Hughes offers managed network services for distributed enterprise businesses and government organizations. Its HughesON managed services include SD-WAN, Wi-Fi and location analytics and cloud-based digital signage and employee training.[49]
^ abcMills, Mike (August 25, 1997). "The Sky's the Limit for Hughes". The Washington Post.
^Shay, Kevin James (January 20, 2011). "EchoStar closes on $2B purchase of Hughes Communications of Germantown". The Gazette. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
^Belson, Ken (November 14, 2006). "With a Dish, Broadband Goes Rural". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
^ ab"Digital Firm Purchased". The Washington Post. February 23, 1978.
^ abRosenberg, Ronald (November 18, 1990). "Motivating M/A Com". Boston Globe.
^Sachdev, D.K. Recent Successful Satellite Systems: Visions of the Future. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.
^Berlocher, Greg (1 September 2010). "Advances Keep VSATs Relevant in Changing Market - Via Satellite -". Via Satellite. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
^Good, Steve. "SatMagazine". www.satmagazine.com. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
^"Hughes to Buy IBM Satellite Leasing Operation". The Los Angeles Times. July 8, 1989. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
^"EchoStar To Buy Hughes Communications For $2 Billion". Forbes. February 14, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
^Merced, Michael J. de la (February 15, 2011). "EchoStar in $1.3 Billion Deal for Hughes Communications". DealBook. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
^"The Space Race Among Internet Service Providers". The Motley Fool. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
^Holmes, Mark (10 November 2011). "Hughes Collaborates with TCS in Military/Government Market - Via Satellite -". Via Satellite. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
^Batambuze III, Ephraim (9 May 2016). "Eutelsat and Facebook Choose Hughes JUPITER™ System For Africa Broadband Initiative". PC Tech Magazine. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
^Nyirady, Annamarie (10 December 2018). "Hughes Brings Satellite Internet Service to Ecuador - Via Satellite -". Via Satellite. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
^ abNichols, Steve (8 May 2018). "Hughes Jupiter infrastructure in place for Thales FlytLive". Get Connected. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
^Kirby, Mary (26 June 2018). "EchoStar's Hughes eyes growth within aero sector". Runway Girl. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
^Baumgartner, Jeff (13 March 2018). "Hughes Beefs Up Throughput on 'Jupiter' Satellite Platform". Multichannel. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
^Henry, Caleb (14 October 2014). "Hughes Begins Marketing Rotary-Specialized Waveform - Via Satellite -". Via Satellite. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
^Henry, Caleb (3 June 2015). "Hughes Awarded Broadband Satellite System Contract by IPSAT - Via Satellite -". Via Satellite. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
^"Hughes opens new satellite hub in India targeting enterprise and SMBs". TelecomLead. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
^Sachdev, D.K. Recent Successful Satellite Systems: Visions of the Future. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. p. 306.
^"2021 AIAA Aerospace Communications Award Honors Pradman Kaul of Hughes Network Systems". SatNews.com. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
^Team, BS Web (11 September 2018). "RJio mulls to use satellites to provide 4G LTE connectivity in remote areas". Business Standard India. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
^"Reliance Jio to use ISRO's satellite to provide 4G services in rural, remote areas". Business Today. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
^Mann, Colin (17 December 2018). "Yahsat, Hughes finalise broadband satellite JV". advanced-television.com. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
^ ab"African telecom operators select Hughes Jupiter system to enable satellite connectivity". BroadcastPro ME. 13 November 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
^"Hughes Hasn't Been This Sexy Since... Thanks to DirecTV, its satellite broadcast service, Hughes Electronics morphed from a defense giant into a white-hot media property. Will Rupert Murdoch get his wish to buy it? - February 5, 2001". archive.fortune.com. Retrieved 2019-03-06.
^Wireless Satellite & Broadcasting. Information Gatekeepers Inc.
^"Hughes updates its HughesNet satellite broadband with Gen4 service". Engadget. Retrieved 2019-03-06.
^Henry, Caleb (29 June 2016). "HughesNet Satellite Internet Makes Debut in Brazil - Via Satellite -". Via Satellite. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
^Russell, Kendall (3 October 2017). "Hughes Introduces Satellite Internet Service in Colombia - Via Satellite -". Via Satellite. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
^Riofrío, Marcela Mendoza (30 October 2018). "Osiptel: se intensifica competencia en Internet al hogar en Perú con HughesNet". El Comercio (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 March 2019.
^Nyirady, Annamarie (10 December 2018). "Hughes Brings Satellite Internet Service to Ecuador - Via Satellite -". Via Satellite. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
^"Hughes to launch satellite broadband service in Mexico". Fierce Telecom. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
^"HUGHESNET CELEBRATES THREE YEARS IN CHILE". WorldTeleport.org. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
^"Satnews Publishers: Daily Satellite News". Sat News. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
^"HughesNet named best in 2 divisions by US News & World Report". The Daily Record. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
^"PCMag Study: Starlink speed and latency top satellite Internet from Hughes and Viasat's Exede". Technology Blog. 2020-11-05. Retrieved 2022-02-22.