Hughes Network Systems has partnered with OneWeb, the global communications company with a mission to bring connectivity to everyone everywhere, to become a worldwide distribution partner for OneWeb and integrate low earth orbit satellite services, the company announced on Monday.
"We are entering a new era of global connectivity demand that can only be fulfilled by a mix of data transport services, including terrestrial, geostationary and Low Earth Orbit satellites," said Pradman Kaul, president of Hughes.
Hughes will utilize OneWeb's constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to expand its service offerings and ensure the company’s customers can access low-latency, high-speed connectivity, regardless of location. Applications will include enterprise and government networking, cellular backhaul and community Wi-Fi hotspots.
"OneWeb complements our service portfolio with a truly global coverage, low-latency option that will enable our customers to meet their end users' needs for connectivity everywhere," Kaul added.
The partnership will expand an already successful relationship between the two companies. Hughes has invested, through its parent company EchoStar, to develop essential ground network technology for OneWeb's LEO system.
OneWeb has worked with a variety of distribution partners in each of its core markets to provide new business and expansion opportunities through the low latency, global, high throughput attributes of the company’s network.
OneWeb is building its initial constellation of 650 LEO satellites. The company has projected that by the end of 2021, OneWeb will be offering low latency globally, with the same capacity over the water, in the air and in previously unconnectable places.
Through Hughes’ gateways, the company has started service testing on the satellites and network availability. The results have been successful, including seamless satellite and beam handovers, high speeds and low latency.
The gateways feature multiple tracking antennas to support operation and handoff of high-speed user traffic to and from the LEO satellites, and can handle up to 10,000 terminal hand-offs per second. Every OneWeb terminal, whether for fixed or mobile services, will incorporate a core module, including modem, developed and manufactured by Hughes.
"I'm delighted that Hughes is joining OneWeb on our mission to deliver this vision. Hughes is already an important investor and an invaluable technology partner, and I look forward to working together to bring OneWeb's pioneering technology to markets around the world," said Adrian Steckel, chief executive officer, OneWeb.
About Hughes at SATELLITE 2020
Hughes will exhibit at SATELLITE 2020, March 10-13, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., showcasing how consumers, businesses, governments and communities around the world benefit from the connected experiences enabled by Hughes technologies and services.
See Hughes executives at SATELLITE 2020 for the latest technologies and solutions for GEO HTS and NGSO systems; Community Wi-Fi Hotspots and cellular backhaul; aero and maritime connectivity; military SATCOM; the latest in hybrid terrestrial-satellite technologies, and more.
