mu Space, SES Networks and Hughes to Provide Broadband Access to Rural Thailand

Written on 12 Mar 2018

Satellite-based broadband access will help to bridge digital divide among the rural and underserved communities of Thailand

Germantown, Md./ Luxembourg/ Bangkok, Thailand, 12 March 2018 - Rural communities of Thailand will soon be able to enjoy reliable satellite-based broadband services delivered by mu Space Corp using SES Networks' satellite capacity and the JUPITER System from Hughes Networks Systems (Hughes), announced SES today.

mu Space is a Thai space technology startup which aims to provide satellite services that are affordable, easy-to-install and offer widespread coverage. By contracting capacity on SES satellites - SES-8 and SES-12 once it is launched -- and using the Hughes' JUPITER System, mu Space will be improving quality of life for Thailand's citizens by providing reliable and affordable satellite-based broadband for telecom providers and businesses in Thailand.

According to Thailand's telecom industry database, only 12% or about 8.3 million of the country's 69 million population currently has access to broadband. Recognising its importance in social and economic development, the Thai government has launched several initiatives, including a National Broadband Policy and a new economic model Thailand 4.0 with the goals to increase broadband penetration to 95% of the Thai population by 2020 and to transform the country into an innovation-driven economy.

At mu Space, our mission is to deliver nationwide and reliable connectivity to everyone in Thailand in order to improve the quality of life of the local people. As such, we have been searching for the ideal partners to ensure that we can deliver reliable broadband services at the right price point. Together with the global experience of SES Networks and Hughes, we are confident of the high service quality that we will jointly deliver in Thailand, said James Yenbamroong, founder and CEO at mu Space.

In rural and underserved areas, satellite is the best solution for broadband access as it's much more affordable and faster to deploy compared to land-based internet infrastructure, said Imran Malik, Vice President, Fixed Data, Asia-Pacific at SES Networks. We are honoured that mu Space has selected SES Networks as their partner of choice in bridging the digital divide in Thailand and are thrilled at the chance to empower Thai citizens with unlimited opportunities to improve their lives.

In ex-urban and rural communities, terrestrial networks are difficult to roll out and costly, contrasted by the new generation of satellites and access technologies which bring affordable access to people anywhere cross continent-wide coverage areas, said Ramesh Ramaswamy, senior vice president and general manager, International at Hughes. We are excited that SES Networks has chosen our JUPITER System and look forward to working with them and mu Space to deliver on their mission of bringing broadband to everyone in Thailand.

About mu Space mu Space is a satellite and space technology startup founded in 2017. The company develops satellite communication technologies to accelerate the adoption of Internet of Things devices and smart cities. It plans to launch its own satellite in 2020 using Blue Origin's New Glenn space vehicle and to lead space tourism in Asia-Pacific. Read more: www.muspacecorp.com

About Hughes Network Systems Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is the global leader in broadband satellite technology and services for home and office. Its flagship high-speed satellite Internet service is HughesNet , the world's largest satellite network with over 1.2 million residential and business customers across North America and Brazil. For large enterprises and governments, the company's HughesON managed network services provide complete connectivity solutions employing an optimized mix of satellite and terrestrial technologies. The JUPITER System is the world's most widely deployed High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) platform, operating on more than 20 satellites by leading service providers, delivering a wide range of broadband enterprise, mobility and cellular backhaul applications. To date, Hughes has shipped more than 7 million terminals to customers in over 100 countries, representing approximately 50 percent market share, and its technology is powering broadband services to aircraft around the world.

Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes operates sales and support offices worldwide, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), a premier global provider of satellite operations. For additional information about Hughes, please visit www.hughes.com

About EchoStar EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) is a premier global provider of satellite communication solutions. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., and conducting business around the globe, EchoStar is a pioneer in secure communications technologies through its Hughes Network Systems and EchoStar Satellite Services business segments. For more information, visit www.echostar.com

About SES SES is the world-leading satellite operator and the first to deliver a differentiated and scalable GEO-MEO offering worldwide, with more than 50 satellites in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and 12 in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). SES focuses on value-added, end-to-end solutions in two key business units: SES Video and SES Networks. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators, governments and institutions. SES's portfolio includes ASTRA, O3b and MX1, a leading media service provider that offers a full suite of innovative digital video and media services. SES is listed on the Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange (ticker: SESG). Further informati

LINK:	https://www.ses.com/press-release/mu-space-ses-networks-and-hughes-pro...
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