Hughes launches satellite-based broadband service

NEW DELHI: Hughes Escorts Communications Ltd (HECL), an Indian VSAT service provider, has announced the commercial launch of DirecWay - a comprehensive, end-to-end satellite broadband service. With an investment of over $15 million in introducing DirecWay, HECL will be the first national satellite broadband service provider in the Indian market to offer services in over 800 cities and rural areas across the country.

To support this service, the company has invested in setting up a world-class infrastructure for the Indian market, which includes dedicated Satellite space, a Data Center for hosting enterprise applications, a Network Operations Center to manage all services and Marketing Services & Support. DirecWay will not only offer broadband access via satellite but also deliver solutions for Networking, Managed Network Services (MNS), Data Center Hosting and Application Services such as Distance Education, Multimedia Broadcast Services and Telemedicine.

With DirecWay, HECL plans to target a wide range of potential customers including large enterprises, SMEs and the home user. The solution is quick to deploy, delivers cost-effective networking, and enables widespread connectivity.

DirecWay will be available to customers in two flavors - the Two-Way System allows users to send and receive information via satellite (a.k.a. satellite return) and the economical One-Way system allows consumers to receive information via satellite at speeds identical to the two-way system. The one-way system sends information using your phone line (a.k.a. dial return). DirecWay will be made available to the Indian customers for a one-time hardware cost of Rs 30,000 for One-Way and upwards of Rs 1 lakh for Two-Way and the recurring charges range from Rs 1,000 per month at the lowest to Rs 20,000 per month, depending on the service plan chosen by the end user.

Through its host of value added application services such as e-procurement, e-distribution, e-CRM, HR management and corporate training, DirecWay enables corporate to streamline operations, cut costs, develop new sources of revenue and create a better-trained workforce. HECL has partnered with several companies including Compaq, CommerceOne, Talisma and Legato to provide these application platforms to their corporate customers.

Speaking at the launch, Partho Bannerjee, President & CEO, Hughes Escorts Communications Ltd said, "Today the business differentiator for any technology service provider lies in the value added applications rather than basic connectivity. As per IMRB estimates, the Indian broadband market in 2002-03 is expected to be Rs 200 crore. With DirecWay enabling the customer to access a comprehensive, one-stop shop solution - right from hardware, to broadband Internet access and applications - we are confident of generating over Rs 100 crore of revenue in the first three years of operations."