HughesNet solutions and services are marketed directly by Hughes and its authorized resellers and distributors throughout North America, Europe, India and Brazil. In all other regions of the world, Hughes products and services are available from a growing family of value-added providers and resellers.
Since the mid 1980’s when Hughes first invented the VSAT, it has consistently been the world leader in providing enterprises, governments, and telecommunications operators with an evolving range of advanced, satellite-based, private network solutions. These networks provide rapid, reliable transmission of data, voice, video and multimedia to virtually an unlimited number of sites over continent-wide areas covered by geostationary satellites. HughesNet is Hughes’ global brand encompassing all broadband solutions and services from Hughes. Customers of HughesNet solutions and services include many of the world’s leading companies, spanning a wide range of vertical sectors, as well as government and multi-national organizations and small businesses/consumers.
Q & A: Hughes and HughesNet
Why is Hughes Network Systems (HNS) changing its name to HUGHES and the name of its service brand from DIRECWAY to HughesNet?Our company’s legal name remains Hughes Network Systems, LLC. However, we are now using HUGHES as our market-facing name.
- In late 2005, SkyTerra Communications, Inc. (OTCBB:SKYT), which owned 50% of HNS, split its holdings into two parts; HNS and certain other investments were contributed to a newly formed company called Hughes Communications, Inc.
- In early 2006, The DIRECTV Group sold its remaining 50% interest in HNS to Hughes Communications, Inc. (HCI) and SkyTerra distributed to its shareholders its shares of HCI.
- As a result of these transactions, HCI (NASDAQ:HUGH) is approximately 70% owned by Apollo and 30% publicly traded. HNS remains 100% owned by HCI and the companies together use the HUGHES brand.
What is the difference between Hughes Communications, Inc. and Hughes Network Systems, LLC? HNS is an operating company and is 100% owned by HCI, the holding entity. Senior management of the two entities is the same. The companies are presented together in the marketplace as HUGHES, a well-recognized name associated with a long heritage of technology innovation and market leadership
What is Hughes and what is HughesNet? Hughes is the global leader in providing broadband satellite networks and services, bridging the best of satellite and terrestrial technologies and enabling customers to realize the full potential of broadband. HughesNet is our service brand and it encompasses all broadband solutions and services for large enterprises, government, small businesses, and consumers. HughesNet services are delivered directly by Hughes in North America, South America, Europe, India and China, and through a growing family of authorized service providers worldwide.
What is the difference between DIRECWAY and HughesNet?DIRECWAY was our universal ‘Broadband by Satellite’ service brand and is now replaced by HughesNet. As we grow our business, we are significantly expanding the scope of our service offerings, both by utilizing multiple broadband technologies and by implementing new value-added services. HughesNet encompasses all the broadband services and value-added solutions provided by Hughes. The link between the service and corporate names underscores the leadership and credibility that we bring to our customers in the delivery of these new services.
Why did you change the name of the service brand? Hughes is expanding the range of services we offer to our customers beyond ‘broadband by satellite’ with which DIRECWAY has become synonymous. The new HughesNet brand reinforces the Hughes’ heritage of innovation and leadership in broadband networks. HughesNet underscores our expansion into new services for enterprises including managed network services, digital media, and enhanced network services, as well as Hughes’ expansion in the consumer and small business market not only for Internet access, but with a comprehensive range of ISP services.
What is the stock ticker and where will you be traded?
Hughes is currently trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol HUGH.
Will there be any management changes?No management changes were precipitated by the corporate restructuring, and HCI and HNS share the same senior management team. Our CFO, Jim Lucchese, retired at the beginning of March and has been replaced by Grant Barber, a veteran CFO in the telecom industry. Pradeep Kaul left HNS to become President and CEO of Hughes Systique, a new company partly owned by HCI whose mission is to provide software and system development services.
