Advanced Television

Canada: Hughes $250m contract with Xplornet

April 23, 2019

Hughes Network Systems, a global player in broadband satellite networks and services, has announced that Xplornet Communications, Canada’s leading rural broadband provider, has agreed to a lifetime capacity agreement on the next-generation JUPITER 3 Ultra High Density Satellite (UHDS), designated EchoStar XXIV.

In a contract valued at more than $250 million over 15 years, the agreement is for approximately 50 Gbps of Ka-band capacity reaching more than 90 per cent of the population of Canada, along with system gateway and consumer premise equipment and operational and support services. Currently under construction, EchoStar XXIV is expected to launch in 2021 and bring more than 500 Gbps of capacity across the Americas.

“This agreement marks another milestone in our longstanding relationship with Hughes,” said Allison Lenehan, CEO of Xplornet. “JUPITER 3 is expected to provide the highest speed satellite Internet service in Canada, with download speeds of 100 Mbps, answering our customers’ need for fast and reliable broadband to connect them to what matters.”

“For more than a decade, Xplornet has teamed with Hughes for satellite capacity and equipment to help them bring the benefits of broadband to Canadians,” said Paul Gaske, executive vice president and general manager, North America at Hughes. “We are excited to continue our successful partnership as we launch our next-generation JUPITER 3 Ultra High Density Satellite, and look forward to supporting Xplornet in delivering essential, high-speed broadband to Canadians for years to come.”

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