EchoStar's (SATS) Hughes Network Ships 5,000 LEO Terminals

Company Overview - EchoStar Corporation's Hughes Network Systems LLC has shipped over 5,000 HL1120W electronically steerable antenna (ESA) Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) terminals, highlighting its leadership in enterprise-class satellite terminals for the Eutelsat OneWeb LEO constellation [1] - The HL1120W terminal is a low-profile, full-duplex device with a built-in modem and a phased array antenna, produced at a new facility in Germantown, MD [2] Technical Specifications - The HL1120W supports speeds of up to 195 Mbps down and 32 Mbps up, addressing modern communication demands with minimal interruptions during satellite beam switching every 11 seconds [3] - Hughes designs and manufactures gateway electronics and core modules for the Eutelsat OneWeb LEO system, capable of facilitating over 10,000 beam-to-beam and satellite-to-satellite handoffs per second [4] Service Offerings - Hughes provides a fully managed LEO service that includes design, installation, maintenance, and capacity, ensuring reliable broadband solutions, especially in remote areas [5] - The managed service is enhanced by Managed SD-WAN capabilities, offering greater connectivity options for business and government users [5] Recent Developments - In June 2024, Hughes announced the acquisition of 1,200 JUPITER Terminals and a JUPITER System Gateway by Saudi Arabia-based Luna Space Telecommunications Co. Ltd., expected to enable new sector opportunities in government, finance, and oil and gas [6] Industry Performance - Despite advancements, EchoStar faced subscriber losses in Pay-TV, Retail Wireless, and Broadband services, resulting in a 9% year-over-year revenue decline to $3.96 billion, missing consensus estimates by 0.6% [7] - The company faces competition from Iridium Communications, Eutelsat Communications, and Globalstar in the mobile and satellite communications industry [7] Peer Analysis - Iridium is experiencing growth in engineering and support revenues due to increased activity with the U.S. government, although it anticipates lower equipment sales in 2024 [8][9] - Globalstar provides satellite voice and data services globally and is focusing on developing its spectrum and wholesale capacity services [9][10] - Eutelsat, a global satellite communications provider, continues to pursue strategic collaborations for top-line expansion, having acquired OneWeb in 2023 to become a fully integrated GEO-LEO satellite operator [10][11]