Xplornet and Hughes Sign Agreement for Echostar XIX High
Throughput Satellite Broadband Capacity over Canada
May 14,
2014
Hughes Network Systems, LLC
announced that Xplornet Communications Inc.,
Canada's largest rural broadband provider, has
committed to 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.
"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."
Built by Space Systems Loral and
planned for launch in mid-2016, 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.
"We are delighted that Xplornet
has again chosen to partner with Hughes for next-generation
satellite capacity and technology," said
Mike Cook, senior vice
president, Hughes. "As the worldwide market leader in the
provision of satellite broadband services and technology, we
are excited to continue to work with them to bring more
speed, more efficiency and an enhanced user experience to
the Canadian market."
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