The massive Jupiter 3 satellite (also known as EchoStar XXIV) has arrived at Cape Canaveral in readiness for launch. The craft is the largest commercial communications satellite ever built. Built by Maxar Technologies of Palo Alto, California, it was flown in a giant Antonov aircraft to the space coast where it will undergo pre-launch testing […]
Hughes Network Systems, an EchoStar, and OneWeb, the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, have agreed a Distribution Partner agreement to provide LEO connectivity services to the global airline market. As a worldwide OneWeb distributor, Hughes is launching new LEO in-flight connectivity (IFC) solutions, powered by the company’s electronically steered antenna (ESA), for airlines […]
EchoStar is sitting on a war chest of $1.7 billion in cash, and wants to invest in an expanded fleet of wide-band satellites to augment its existing 28-craft fleet of Lyra narrowband satellites. The news emerged in EchoStar’s post-result analyst call when CEO Hamid Akhavan said: “We are in the design and engineering phase of […]
EchoStar, in its recent results, highlighted its best performance in five quarters, reporting EBITDA that was ~9 per cent above consensus. Revenues were basically flat (but ~3 per cent above consensus), as equipment revenues grew 43 per cent, offset by a 7.6 per cent decline in service revenues (primarily consumer-based at Hughes Network). On March […]
Charlie Ergen’s EchoStar business, which is largely made up of revenues from its wholly-owned Hughes Networks division, reported a decline of 57,000 broadband subscribers to Hughes during the quarter to December 31st. Total subscribers at Hughes are now 1.22 million. EchoStar’s consolidated revenues for the quarter (to December 31st) were $499.9 million ($498.6 a year […]
GlobalStar, which has won potential support from Apple for its iPhone emergency service, is to repay cash owed to EchoStar under the 2019 Facility Agreement signed between GlobalStar and EchoStar. The Apple project could not have proceeded had the debt not been repaid. GlobalStar says all its outstanding obligations to EchoStar will be met within […]
Charlie Ergen’s EchoStar has moved in regard to its coverage of the planet with S-band frequencies. EchoStar already has European coverage with its EchoStar Mobile Ltd under a licence from the EU (although due to expire in 2027). EchoStar has now dramatically expanded that coverage with a commitment to launch 28 satellites with Astro Digital […]
OneWeb, in the process of finalising its launch schedule and completing its Version 1 satellite constellation, has bought 10,000 ground terminals from EchoStar-owned Hughes Network Systems. Hughes confirmed the OneWeb order, saying: “Engineered and manufactured by Hughes, the terminals (model number HL1100) include the Hughes electronically steered antenna and compact indoor and outdoor equipment necessary […]
EchoStar has announced an amended agreement with Maxar Technologies for production of the EchoStar XXIV satellite, also known as JUPITER 3. The satellite, designed for EchoStar’s Hughes Network Systems division, is under production at Maxar’s facility in Palo Alto, CA. The amended agreement compensates EchoStar for past production delays by providing relief on future payments and […]
Satellite broadband operator Hughes, a division of Denver-based EchoStar, is having a tough time. Its global subscriber numbers fell some 19 per cent at 61,000 to a new total of 1.28 million during Q3. Damaging as this is, it has also emerged that its much-needed – and massive – new satellite, Jupiter 3, is also […]