Incorporating numerous multimedia broadcast facilities, this hub will not only operate standard satellite networking functions, but will support many diverse applications that require common-content distribution to multiple remote sites.

Hughes claims that no other satellite-network hub offers the range and depth of broadcasting options and services from distance learning and virtual universities to videoconferencing and corporate messages that this latest HNS hub will. It is anticipated that the hub will be operational by March 1999 and will serve between 10,000 and 15,000 remote, very small aperture terminal (VSAT) sites by the end of that year.

"We are very excited that we are going to be able to offer our customers expanded facilities and additional services," said Ali Mohadjer, vice president, Satellite Networks Division, HNS. "The demand for broadcasting multimedia applications has grown exponentially and satellite transmission offers organizations the most cost-effective means of delivering high-quality, high-bandwidth content to multiple sites. Our new facilities offer the latest transmission and production technology and our experienced personnel make it easy to use our services for many different applications."

The new hub will support all HNS satellite products including DirecPC/Enterprise Edition, HNS' high-speed, high bandwidth VSAT; the integrated satellite business network (ISBN), a private satellite network that supports two-way data, voice, multimedia, and one-way broadcast video communications; the HNS interactive distance learning (IDL) network, a turnkey IDL solution that incorporates content, network transmission and management, with desktop and classroom IDL equipment; and the new generation of multimedia VSATs.

VSAT networks rely on a central hub station to serve as a transfer point between remote locations and the corporate data center. Some companies operate their own "dedicated" hubs, but many companies prefer not to build their own facility nor maintain the technical staff necessary to operate it. These companies look to service providers such as HNS to operate their networks through shared-hub facilities. Using shared hubs not only allows organizations to avoid the expense of building and maintaining their own facilities, but allows companies to contract only for the amount of bandwidth they need. As network needs grow or change, HNS can quickly reconfigure a company's network at very little cost.