Hughes Network Systems… Hurricanes Cometh (SatCom)

[SatNews] Help may be obtained when deciding what needs to be done to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season…



Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) has now made available the Hughes Emergency Solutions in anticipation of the 2011 hurricane season and in response to the terrible tornadoes much of the country has experienced this spring. WSI Corp., a weather software maker, has predicted another very active season for hurricanes in 2011, which may affect businesses and government entities in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions. Hughes Emergency Solutions are designed to provide robust, expedited broadband Internet connectivity for business and government when disasters strike, whether earthquakes, tornadoes, or hurricanes. According to researchers from John Hopkins and Texas A&M University, during the last five major hurricanes, nearly 30,000 businesses and government entities were forced to cease operations due to power outages and loss of Internet connectivity.



The 2011 hurricane season is expected to be above normal with an estimated 17 named storms and nine hurricanes—five of which will be Category 3 or higher. Businesses and government offices can expect to experience network downtime, impairing emergency response and recovery efforts, disrupting business activities, and impacting the ability to keep mission-critical operations running smoothly. “Continuity during disasters is imperative for businesses and government agencies,” said Mike Cook, senior vice president at Hughes. “Broadband satellite services provide network connectivity that continues to operate when terrestrial networks—including cell towers—are severely damaged. Incorporating satellite services into emergency planning and response activities enables businesses and government agencies to maintain uninterrupted Internet connections needed to facilitate disaster response and day-to-day operations such as sending and receiving e-mails, processing orders, sharing information, and checking inventory. We encourage businesses and government agencies to follow our recommendations to ensure that they stay connected during the hurricane season.”



The Hughes Emergency Solutions features an Internet service plan with download speeds of up to 5 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 1 Mbps, made possible by using Hughes’ advanced SPACEWAY® 3 Ka-band satellite system. The service plan includes comprehensive 24/7 technical support, next-business day field maintenance, and provides organizations with the flexibility they need in an emergency, requiring only a two-month service commitment that may be extended on a month-to-month basis, depending on need. In addition, Hughes offers mobile solutions with nationwide reach and vehicle-mount, on-the-move terminals and flyaway kits that set up quickly for emergency Internet access. Hughes can also provide mobile satellite service using Inmarsat’s Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service and Hughes BGAN terminals.