Hughes Network Systems has awarded a launch services contract to Arianespace for the launch of its next-generation SPACEWAY 3 satellite. The Ariane 5 heavy launcher will launch SPACEWAY 3 into geosynchronous transfer orbit from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch date is projected for August 2007.
The SPACEWAY 3 satellite is the first in the world to switch and route broadband traffic on board, enabling single-hop communications between satellite terminals, eliminating the requirement for traffic to be routed through a central hub earth station. The SPACEWAY 3 satellite's advanced antenna technology allows the dynamic formation and shaping of spot beams, enabling the flexible management of capacity and delivery of true bandwidth-on-demand services.
The SPACEWAY 3 satellite will operate in the globally assigned Ka-band spectrum and will deliver a wide range of new high-speed communications services for IP data and multimedia applications to North American enterprise, consumer, and government customers.
"This is a very exciting time for Hughes," said Pradman Kaul, chairman and CEO of Hughes. "With the launch of SPACEWAY 3, Hughes will enter a new era as a satellite system operator, augmenting our market leadership in delivering broadband satellite services worldwide. We are confident that Arianespace will provide a reliable launch service and eagerly anticipate providing new, value-added solutions to our customers in the coming months."
"Arianespace considers it a great honor to have been selected by the world's largest satellite broadband company, Hughes, to place the SPACEWAY 3 satellite into orbit," said Arianespace CEO, Jean-Yves Le Gall. "Arianespace's SPACEWAY 3 mission for Hughes will launch robust new broadband communications services delivered via satellite across North America."
