Hughes Network Systems facts for kids
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Telecommunications Satellite Internet |
| Founded | 1971 (Digital Communications Corp) |
| Headquarters | Germantown, Maryland, U.S. |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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| Services | Satellite networks and services |
| Revenue | $1.97 billion (2022) |
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Number of employees
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2,000 (2022) |
| Parent | EchoStar |
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Hughes Network Systems, LLC is an American company that helps people and businesses connect to the internet using satellites. It's like having a super-fast internet connection beamed down from space! The company is based in Germantown, Maryland. Its most famous service is called HughesNet, which provides satellite internet to over a million homes, especially in areas where regular internet cables don't reach. Hughes Network Systems is part of a bigger company called EchoStar.
Contents
History of Hughes Network Systems
Hughes Network Systems started way back in 1971. It was first called Digital Communication Corporation (DCC). A group of seven engineers and a lawyer, led by John Puente and Dr. Burton Edelson, began the company. They used to work together at Comsat Laboratories.
Early Days and Growth
DCC began in a garage in Rockville, Maryland. They started with $40,000 to design circuit boards for phone and internet products. By 1977, the company had grown a lot. It had 250 employees and made $10.6 million in sales.
In 1978, another company called Microwave Associates bought DCC. The company then became MA/COM-DCC. They started making products for satellites.
Inventing VSAT Technology
In 1985, the company invented something very important: the Very Small Aperture Terminal, or VSAT. A VSAT is a small satellite dish that can send and receive data. That same year, they sold their first VSAT network to Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart used this new technology to connect its stores in faraway places. VSAT technology is now used all over the world.
In 1987, Hughes Aircraft Corporation bought MA/COM-DCC for $105 million. The company was then renamed Hughes Communications.
Changes in Ownership
In 2004, News Corp bought a big part of Hughes. This was mainly to get its DirecTV unit, which provides satellite TV. Later, in 2005, Hughes became a company owned by SkyTerra Communications Inc.
In 2007, Hughes Communications became an independent public company. This meant its shares could be bought and sold on the NASDAQ stock market.
Joining EchoStar
In 2011, EchoStar, a company based in Colorado, announced it would buy Hughes Communications. The deal was completed in June 2011. Hughes Communications became part of EchoStar, and Hughes Network Systems continued as a company fully owned by EchoStar.
In May 2024, Hughes Network Systems and Dish Network (which EchoStar had acquired in 2023) announced a special offer. Customers could get Dish satellite TV and HughesNet satellite internet together.
In June 2025, it was reported that EchoStar Corporation was facing financial difficulties. The company was considering a special legal process to reorganize its finances. This was due to several reasons, including issues with its Boost Mobile service and missed payments.
Technology and Services
Hughes Network Systems offers many ways to connect people and businesses using satellites.
Satellite Systems
In 2012, Hughes launched the Jupiter System. This is a special ground system for VSATs. It helps provide very fast internet and other services using satellites. The Jupiter System works with both high-speed and regular satellites. It supports things like internet access, public Wi-Fi spots, and even internet on airplanes.
Hughes also has a Jupiter Aero System. This system provides broadband internet for aircraft. By 2018, about 1,000 airplanes were using Hughes technology.
Hughes has set up more than 9 million VSAT dishes in over 100 countries. This means they have more than half of the world's VSAT market!
Satellite Services
Hughes uses satellites to extend cellular service to remote areas. This means people in rural places can get 4G/LTE phone service, even where it's hard to build regular cell towers.
HughesNet Internet Service
Hughes Network Systems runs a high-speed satellite internet service called HughesNet. This service is very popular, especially for people in rural areas who can't get regular cable internet. Hughes also provides services to governments and businesses.
HughesNet first started in 1996 as DirecPC. It was later renamed Direcway in 2002. In 2006, it became HughesNet. In 2012, Hughes started offering broadband satellite internet. By 2017, HughesNet Gen5 was the first satellite internet provider to meet the Federal Communications Commission's definition of "broadband."
HughesNet has expanded its service to other countries. It launched in Brazil in 2016, Colombia in 2017, Peru and Ecuador in 2018, and Mexico and Chile in 2019.
HughesNet has received good reviews. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) reported that HughesNet often met or went beyond its advertised internet speeds from 2014 to 2017. In 2022, U.S. News & World Report named HughesNet the Best Rural Internet Provider and Best Satellite Internet Provider.
One thing to know about satellite internet like HughesNet is that it can have higher latency. This means there's a slight delay because the signal has to travel a very long distance to a satellite and back. This can make some activities, like videoconferencing or online gaming, a bit slower compared to regular internet.
Managed Network Services
Hughes also offers "managed network services." These services help businesses and government groups manage their computer networks. This includes things like SD-WAN (which helps networks work better), Wi-Fi services, and digital signs.
See also
In Spanish: Hughes Communications para niños
- Hughes Europe
