Will Provide Satellite-Based Broadband Service

The EchoStar XIX satellite designed and built for Hughes Network Systems by Space Systems Loral (SSL) has been delivered to the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, where it will be launched aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle.

When launched, EchoStar XIX will be the world's highest capacity broadband satellite.

"SSL and Hughes have a long term collaborative relationship that has helped to expand the limits of satellite technology," said John Celli, president of SSL. "We worked closely to develop one of the world's highest capacity satellites on orbit today and it has been our pleasure to further advance satellite's capability with EchoStar XIX, which will bring the benefits of quality, high-speed internet service to families and businesses."

EchoStar XIX is a large, multi-spot beam Ka-band satellite based on the powerful SSL 1300 platform, which has the capability to support a broad range of applications and technology advances. SSL has built nearly 50 satellites with HTS payloads, including two of the highest capacity broadband satellites in service today, and the world's first true high throughput satellite, which was launched in 2005.

"SSL has been an innovative and reliable partner in the expansion of our highly advanced satellite fleet," said Pradman Kaul, president of Hughes. "EchoStar XIX will provide us with added capacity to meet the burgeoning demand for HughesNet high-speed satellite Internet service and we look forward to next month's launch with great anticipation."

(Image provided with SSL news release)

FMI: www.sslmda.com