Hughes launches wholesale Wi-Fi network

Hughes Network Systems this week launched North America’s first satellite based Wi-Fi services, using its DirecWay system of orbital satellites to backhaul data from rural and recreational areas of the U.S.

The network targets areas where it is either impossible or too expensive to deploy traditional broadband services such as DSL. Hughes is starting by wholesaling the Wi-Fi networks to wireless ISPs serving recreational vehicle parks, but plans to expand the services to encompass swathes of the rural U.S. where there is pent-up demand for Wi-Fi services, but no way to backhaul the data.

While Hughes will be selling the service to individual wireless ISPs and RV facilities on a wholesale basis, the company won’t just be providing bandwidth. It has developed an entire back office suite that will handle subscriptions, billing and customer care. Hughes also plans to arrange roaming agreements that would allow other carriers customers to use the networks.

“In general we’re focusing on leisure travel destinations right now,” said Mahesh Bhave, Hughes Network Systems’ vice president of new business development. “Not just RV parks, we’re focusing on boat clubs and national parks.”

Bhave said the service could eventually be adopted for rural and suburban use, especially by carriers who are looking to fill in holes of their Wi-Fi networks in areas where broadband lines are difficult or too expensive to deploy. The DirecWay satellite transceivers can be set up in a matter of hours and are relatively inexpensive to install, as opposed to a buried T-1 line or deploying remote terminals to support DSL traffic.