Hughes Network Systems announced today, the launch of what it touts as the world's largest and fastest satellite broadband network, including an updated Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technology utilizing its Jupiter System.

The company's new HughesNet Gen5 will go live beginning March 16; will cater to a variety of clients. It is expected to deliver faster speeds, more data and built-in Wi-Fi for a variety of consumers and small businesses across the continental US and key areas in Alaska, c|net reported.

The company is the first to achieve the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) defined broadband speeds of 25Mbps downloads and 3Mbps uploads across all plans. HughesNet Gen 5 offers a variety of consumer and business plans to suit individual requirements from 10 to 250GB per month of data.

Previously, Hughes declined to participate in FCC surveys, until now. According to Space News, the measured download speed of Hughes service was double than the advertised rate. It is noteworthy that the Germantown, Maryland-based Hughes, has made it a practice to advertise lower speeds.

According to T. Paul Gaske, Hughes' executive vice president, the company is happy keeping lower customer's expectations and yet delivers more than expected. Accordingly, Hughes' technology runs faster and they are providing their customer's access to it.

Powered by the company's Jupiter System, HughesNet Gen 5 will tap into what the company calls as the "world's highest capacity broadband satellite," the newly launched EchoStar XIX along with the currently in orbit, EchoStar XVII. According to the company, the Jupiter System is the worlds' most widely deployed satellite-networking platform.

There are approximately 18 million households across the United States that are either unserved or having problems with slow wired internet connections, according to Pradman Kaul, president of Hughes Network Systems.

Residential customers who subscribe to the HughesNet Gen5 service are offered 50GB of data allocation for $49.99 a month. Business plans, however, range up to 250GB starting at $69.99. As stated above, all plans come with the same download and upload speeds at 25Mbps and 3Mbps respectively. Hughes will post the complete plan and price packages for Gen5 on March 16.

Additional features provided by the company for Gen5 service include:

  • Built-in Wi-Fi to connect wireless devices.
  • No hard data limits. Service continues at a reduced speed If monthly plan data is exceeded, until the next billing cycle.
  • Video Data Saver to watch videos using fewer data.
  • Bonus Zone or 50 GB of free data per month to use during off-peak hours (2 a.m. to 8 a.m. local time).
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