Hughes Unveils Emergency Internet Connection Services; Tony Bardo Comments

Hughes Network Systems has introduced a set of broadband satellite network platforms designed to provide Internet connections for first responders, government agencies and businesses during hurricanes and other disasters.

The offerings under Hughes Emergency Services suite seek to offer online communications during pre-disaster planning, recovery and post-event response operations, the company said Tuesday.

“It only takes one hurricane to devastate a community, and when that happens the situation becomes much harder to manage without a robust communications network,” said Tony Bardo, assistant vice president for government solutions at Hughes.

“All terrestrial networks are vulnerable when disaster strikes —whether cable, fiber or wireless— and satellite offers the only true alternate path solution to ensure essential voice and data connectivity for public safety officials and first responders, especially in those first critical hours when lives are stake.”

The Germantown, Maryland-based company noted that its Hughes Emergency Response Solutions, Hughes Continuity of Operations Solutions and Hughes Emergency Network Restoral Solutions are designed to deliver download speeds of between 5 and 15 megabits per second.