Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) and Barrett Xplore Inc. have committed to acquire and operate more than 10 Gbps of capacity on Jupiter, a nexgen, high-throughput satellite from Hughes. Jupiter is designed with more than 100 Gbps of capacity, representing a tenfold increase over existing satellites, and is scheduled for launch in 2012. The agreement is valued in excess of US$100 million.

Barrett Xplore will be able to provide customers with unparalleled speeds and bandwidth, offering a range of packages of up to 10 Mbps for residential service and up to 25 Mbps for business, with performance and pricing comparable to that in terrestrial broadband markets. Employing a multi-spot beam, highly efficient, Ka-band architecture, Jupiter will use an enhanced version of the IPoS standard, the world's leading broadband satellite standard approved by ETSI, TIA, and ITU standards organizations. Its high-throughput capabilities will augment the successful SPACEWAY® 3 satellite system from Hughes, the largest and most advanced satellite currently operating in North America, further reinforcing the company’s leadership in delivering HughesNet® broadband-by-satellite services to consumers, businesses, and governments across the U.S.  Barrett Xplore also uses SPACEWAY 3 today to serve the rural Canadian market.