Satellite Industry News

Washington, DC, September 9, 2021 – Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), an innovator in satellite and multi-transport technologies and networks for 50 years, and OneWeb, the low Earth orbit satellite communications company, today announced that they have signed a distribution agreement in the U.S. focused on enterprise services. In India, the parties have entered into an MOU for a strategic agreement to distribute services to large enterprises, small and medium businesses, government, telcos and ISPs, including in the rural and remote parts of the country. Services will be offered by Hughes Network Systems, LLC, and Hughes Communications India Private Ltd., respectively. Hughes and OneWeb intend to work together to broaden distribution globally, with Hughes to offer OneWeb’s low-latency, high-speed connectivity for markets such as enterprise, government, commercial aviation and maritime, cellular backhaul, and community Wi-Fi hotspots.  

Germantown, MD, August 17, 2021—Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), an innovator in satellite and multi-transport technologies and networks for 50 years, today announced that it has been awarded one of several prime positions on an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract with a ceiling of $950,000,000 by the U.S. Air Force to support its Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS). Hughes will offer flexible satellite communications solutions that leverage open systems design, modern software and algorithm development in order to enable ABMS, part of the broader Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) effort to deliver information accessibility to the warfighter.

AT&T Inc.* (NYSE: T) and TPG Capital, the private equity platform of global alternative asset firm TPG, announced today that they have closed their transaction establishing a new company named DIRECTV. This new company will own and operate the DIRECTV, AT&T TV and U-verse video services previously owned and operated by AT&T. DIRECTV had approximately 15.4 million premium video subscribers at the end of the second quarter of 2021.

Two companies doing business in Colorado are feeling the heat from new competition in satellite broadband, prompting new buzz and innovation around a service most consumers never notice.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., July 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DISH Network announced today that the popular HBO Max streaming platform, as well as the HBO and Cinemax premium networks are now available to DISH TV customers nationwide through a new agreement with WarnerMedia. Tied to the launch and for a limited time, DISH is offering customers a 10-day free preview to access HBO and Cinemax.

CARLSBAD, Calif., June 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, today announced it has been named one of the top 200 federal contractors according to Bloomberg Government in the 10th annual BGOV200, based on fiscal year 2020 data for unclassified, prime contracts awarded across all U.S. federal government agencies. Viasat ranked #106, up 15 spots from the previous year. 

Germantown, MD, July 8, 2021 – Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), an innovator in satellite communications for 50 years, today announced its participation in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) Emergency Broadband Benefit program to help households struggling to pay for Internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provides a temporary discount of up to $50 per month toward HughesNet® satellite Internet service for eligible new and existing customers. Hughes was an early champion of the Emergency Broadband Benefit program and the only nationwide satellite provider to participate.

NEW YORK and CARLSBAD, Calif., May 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company and leading in-flight connectivity provider to many of the world's most recognizable airlines, today announced a groundbreaking multi-year partnership to make NBA League Pass, the league's premium live game subscription service, available to millions of airline passengers while in flight. The partnership will provide a streaming experience in the sky, enabling airline passengers to access live and on-demand NBA games and content on their personal electronic devices at no extra cost when they register for NBA League Pass in-flight. JetBlue will be one of the first airlines to offer NBA League Pass on Viasat-equipped aircraft, with additional airlines expected to be announced.

DSI and Kinetic by Windstream announce their new partnership to offer dealers the opportunity to sell the ultimate online experience. This collaboration will allow dealers to sell ultra-fast, super-reliable fiber-backed internet directly to consumers. With speeds up to 1 Gbps, you can count on Kinetic to provide the fastest speeds with less downtime. Kinetic adds additional value by offering internet plans that are flexible, including plans with no annual contract and no data caps.

DSI is proud to announce our new partnership with CenturyLink as an internet service provider partner. CenturyLink Internet offers customers a wide range of available speeds to fit their online needs. This includes their continually expanding footprint of super-fast Fiber Gigabit Internet which can deliver internet speeds approaching 1 Gbps. Additionally, customers using CenturyLink internet can connect multiple devices with its mega-fast in-home WiFi modem/router equipment. Bundling internet with home phone is also an option, giving customers and businesses the best deals CenturyLink has to offer.

Today, Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. company (NASDAQ: AMZN), announced that DISH Network Corporation (DISH) (NASDAQ: DISH) selected AWS as its preferred cloud provider and will construct its 5G network on AWS, part of a strategic collaboration agreement under which both companies will work to transform how organizations and customers, including AWS and Amazon, order and consume 5G services or create their own private 5G networks.

DOW Technologies, the leading independently owned electronics and technology services distributor, was recently awarded eight Quest for Quality Awards in CE Pro’s 11^th annual competition. In the first year DOW won any Quest for Quality Awards, it received an award in each of the available categories.

DOW Electronics, the leading independently owned electronics and technology services distributor, announced today that it has changed its name to DOW Technologies. The new name reflects the company’s long history while better aligning with its current and future business strategy.

AT&T spent $3.1 billion with Black-owned suppliers, surpassing a $3 billion two-year commitment to drive diversity and inclusion across our business and communities where we live and work.

 Viasat Inc., a global communications company, today announced the appointment of Leandro Gaunszer as managing director of Viasat Brazil. Based in São Paulo, Gaunszer will lead Viasat's strategic expansion in the country, helping to connect the unserved and underserved populations to high-speed, reliable connectivity services.

DishLATINO today announced the launch of the Cine & Entretenimiento Pack, delivering access to A3 Cine, A3Series, Cinema Dinamita, Hola TV, Star HD, Starz Encore en Español and Tarima. The new channel pack offers the best in Spanish-laguage movies and entertainment, and can be added to subscribers' programming for $5 per month.

WASHINGTON, DC. January 11, 2021. The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications
Association praised the Federal Communications Commission’s decision yesterday to permanently
invalidate Chicago’s onerous satellite dish restrictions, which had been suspended since 2012.

Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, announced today that Rick Baldridge, Viasat's president & CEO, will participate in the 23rd Annual Needham Virtual Growth Conference on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, from 12:30pm EST to 1:10pm EST.

DISH Network Corporation today announced it reached a new, multi-year carriage agreement with Nexstar Media Group. Local stations and WGN America have been immediately restored on DISH TV. In addition, WGN America will be available on SLING TV in early 2021 as part of an Extra add-on package.

Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, today announced it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire RigNet, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNET), a leading provider of ultra-secure, intelligent networking solutions and specialized applications, in an all-stock transaction that values RigNet at an enterprise value of approximately $222 million based on Viasat's share price as of the date of the agreement and RigNet's net debt at September 30, 2020.