Hughes Chooses SSL To Hatch New Bird
Hughes Network Systems LLC, a broadband satellite services provider and a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation, contracted with Space Systems/Loral (SSL) to build what they say will be the world’s highest-capacity broadband satellite ? the JUPITER 2/EchoStar XIX. With more than 150 Gbps throughput, the new Ka-band satellite reportedly will have 50-percent greater capacity than EchoStar XVII, which also was built by SSL for Hughes and was launched in July 2012. Planned for launch in mid-2016, JUPITER 2/EchoStar XIX will continue to power HughesNet in North America. The new orbiter will include more than 120 spot beams for Internet coverage across the United States and parts of Canada. Its expected service lifetime is at least 15 years.