EchoStar Looks To Boost Broadband Offerings With Jupiter-97W Satellite

EchoStar plans to roughly double its satellite-based consumer broadband capacity with the launch of its Jupiter-97W satellite under construction now, the company said Tuesday. The company filed an application with the FCC International Bureau requesting approval of technical modifications for Jupiter-97W. The satellite, like its EchoStar XVII launched in 2011, will focus on broadband services in North America and South America, including Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela and the U.S. Jupiter-97W will carry 150 Gbps capacity, the company said. Along with the Ka-band satellite, Hughes plans to set up as many as 22 gateway earth stations to establish a terrestrial connection to the Internet. The Papua New Guinea National Information and Communication Technology Authority is administering the launch. Jupiter-97W would be Hughes' third high-throughput Ka-band satellite.