Hughes Network Systems aims to bring Internet connectivity to just about anyone, and they want to do it without compromising on performance either. In fact, the company has just announced the availability of the fastest consumer broadband satellite Internet access plans ever offered. These new service plans are known as Elite and ElitePlus, will operate over the HughesNet service, offering rural Americans a chance to surf the Internet without being bogged down by slow connections, boasting access speeds that on par with terrestrial broadband services utilizing affordable consumer equipment. The Elite plan is said to offer download speeds of up to 2Mbps while the speedier ElitePlus features download speeds of up to 3Mbps.

According to Peter Gulla, Hughes vice president of marketing, “Consumers and small businesses in rural areas have been left behind. Access to dial tone may be universal in the US, but access to DSL or cable modem service is not. The lack of broadband adversely affects mostly rural communities.”

I can safely say that broadband access is taken for granted by most families and businesses in urban areas, but for the same demographic in rural areas, the lack of broadband access will leave folks at a competitive disadvantage, running the risk of becoming disenfranchised from their customers and the marketplace. Currently there are around 15 million homes in pockets of America, both rural and urban, that are missing out on a broadband connection and this is where Hughes Network Systems comes in.

The Elite service plans will enable subscribers to :-

• Enjoy download speeds on par with terrestrial providers of 2 to 3 Mbps
• Effectively run a home-based business
• Engage in e-commerce activities
• Access information, whether for business or pleasure, at speeds rivaled by no other satellite broadband provider

Depending on the plan you choose, you will fork out between $59.99 to $119.99 per month, which ain’t too shabby considering those offered speeds are way better than 56k dial-up.

Press Release