With New Contracts, Hughes India Builds Momentum Across Defence Sector

On the water and in the air, Hughes SATCOM solutions power military communications on the move for India

Hughes Communications India Ltd (HCIL) was selected for two key military-based agreements, building momentum across the defense sector and helping to ensure state-ofthe-art communications for India’s armed forces. First, Hughes will provide a high-performance satellite broadband system for India’s Naval Communication Network (NCN), which will power broadband services across the Navy’s mainland and island sites. Second, in a significant teaming agreement, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a state-owned aerospace and defense company, together with Hughes will provide SATCOM solutions for helicopters under India’s Ministry of Defence.

Sterlite Tech, a global data network solutions company and the systems integrator for the Indian Navy’s digital network, chose the Hughes systems to deliver C- and Ku-band satellite services as part of its hybrid IP-MPLS network. Designed and optimized for carrier-grade IP broadband networking and specialized applications, the Hughes ground system scales from hundreds to thousands of high-performance remote terminals.

“With Hughes advanced global satellite systems, we will bring in ease-of-network management through seamless connectivity even in tough and remote island terrains for the Indian Navy, boosting national security,” said KS Rao, CEO, Telecom Services Business, Sterlite Tech.

For India’s Ministry of Defence, BEL and Hughes will develop SATCOM solutions for helicopters, enabling BLoS links for real-time and assured communications using Ku-band satellites. In India, BEL is a well-known public sector enterprise with expertise in the design, development, engineering and manufacture of strategic defense, radar and weapon SATCOM systems.

“We are proud to have been awarded these critical communications infrastructure projects,” said Shivaji Chatterjee, senior vice president and head of Enterprise Business, HCIL. “They are a testament to our in-country record of delivering leading technology solutions and supporting homeland security. Our military will benefit from improved voice, video, and data experiences across fixed and mobile sites, and secure real-time communications in the air environment.”