[SatNews] Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) has announced that Tomsk Polytechnical University (TPU) has selected a Hughes HX System to provide forest fire monitoring services for the Federal Forestry Agency of the Russian Federation.

A new and comprehensive satellite-based solution has been developed for Russia-wide monitoring of its huge forested regions, enabling early detection and rapid response to fires. Data is collected via remote sensors and transferred to “Avialesokhrana,” a service monitoring center through Yasen, a system developed by TPU. Yasen collects, transfers, processes, and analyzes the data during all stages of fire fighting from across the entire territory of the Russian Federation. The satellite broadband network is based on Hughes HX System technology, operated by TPU from its facilities in Tomsk, Siberia. The network comprises a central HX Network Operations Center in Tomsk together with both fixed and mobile broadband satellite terminals in the field, including HX260 mesh terminals for simultaneous voice and data services. Several HX terminals are mounted on vehicles enabling emergency communications from remote sites.

The HX System was supplied to Tomsk Polytechnical University through Hughes reseller, JSC Machinoimport. Tomsk Polytechnical University is expanding beyond the provision of satellite communication services. Taking into account the great demand and interest in modern satellite broadband technology, the University is setting up a training center for Russian/CIS satellite communications operators and engineers, which is being built with Hughes participation and based on Hughes technology.