GERMANTOWN, Md., June 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hughes Network
Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite
network solutions and services, today announced the availability of
Hughes Emergency Solutions in anticipation of the 2011 hurricane
season and in response to the terrible tornadoes much of the
country has experienced this spring. WSI Corp., a weather software
maker, has predicted another very active season for hurricanes in
2011, which may affect businesses and government entities in the
Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions.(1) Hughes Emergency
Solutions are designed to provide robust, expedited broadband
Internet connectivity for business and government when disasters
strike, whether earthquakes, tornadoes, or hurricanes.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110112/NE29456LOGO
)
According to researchers from John
Hopkins and Texas A&M
University, during the last five major hurricanes, nearly
30,000 businesses and government entities were forced to cease
operations due to power outages and loss of Internet
connectivity.(2) The 2011 hurricane season is expected to be
above normal with an estimated 17 named storms and nine hurricanes
-- five of which will be Category 3 or higher. Businesses and
government offices can expect to experience network downtime,
impairing emergency response and recovery efforts, disrupting
business activities, and impacting the ability to keep
mission-critical operations running smoothly.
"Continuity during disasters is imperative for businesses and
government agencies," said Mike
Cook, senior vice president at Hughes. "Broadband satellite
services provide network connectivity that continues to operate
when terrestrial networks -- including cell towers -- are severely
damaged. Incorporating satellite services into emergency planning
and response activities enables businesses and government agencies
to maintain uninterrupted Internet connections needed to facilitate
disaster response and day-to-day operations such as sending and
receiving e-mails, processing orders, sharing information, and
checking inventory. We encourage businesses and government agencies
to follow our recommendations to ensure that they stay connected
during the hurricane season."
Hughes suggests businesses and government agencies follow these
simple steps to stay connected, eliminate Internet downtime, and
prevent significant disruptions during this hurricane season.
- Have a back-up generator and plenty of batteries on
hand. Maintaining electrical power will be a top priority.
Without electrical power, you will not be able to maintain your
Internet connection.
- Subscribe to a resilient, high-speed Internet service,
such as satellite broadband, so decision makers and emergency
operators can stay connected, as well as to ensure that your
e-mail, product orders, and other critical information can be
maintained should your terrestrial network fail.
- Prepare and protect critical data. Evaluate which
applications and data are essential, such as Continuity of
Operations (COOP)/emergency response plans, accounting documents,
inventory logs, and constituent information; back up the
information in a timely manner, and store the data in a safe,
secure, and dependable facility. Since data may be lost due to
flooding, consider storing data at an off-site location.
- Keep at least one corded phone connected to a wall jack
to ensure that your office has telecommunications service in the
event of an electrical-only outage.
- Do not hesitate to go on alert. If you believe you are
at risk of losing service for an extended period of time, put your
Web hosting provider on alert.
According to Cook, "Landline connections can be unreliable
during significant flooding and windy conditions, forcing
operations to cease. This can mean a significant loss of revenue
for businesses, and disruption of vital government services which
are needed most in recovery operations. Hughes Emergency Solutions
provides both fixed and mobile satellite solutions that can quickly
restore those connections."
The Hughes Emergency Solutions features an Internet service plan
with download speeds of up to 5 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 1
Mbps, made possible by utilizing Hughes' advanced SPACEWAY® 3
Ka-band satellite system. The service plan includes comprehensive
24/7 technical support, next-business day field maintenance, and
provides organizations with the flexibility they need in an
emergency, requiring only a two-month service commitment that may
be extended on a month-to-month basis, depending on need.
In addition, Hughes offers mobile solutions with nationwide
reach and vehicle-mount, on-the-move terminals and flyaway kits
that set up quickly for emergency Internet access. Hughes can also
provide mobile satellite service using Inmarsat's Broadband Global
Area Network (BGAN) service and Hughes BGAN terminals.
Businesses and government agencies can order directly from
Hughes by calling 1-877-881-8603.
To download the white paper, "Hughes Emergency
Solutions," please visit www.hughes.com and click on News/White
Papers.
About Hughes Network Systems
Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is the world's leading
provider of satellite broadband for home and office, delivering
innovative network technologies, managed services, and solutions
for enterprises and governments globally. HughesNet® is the #1
high-speed satellite Internet service in the marketplace, with
offerings to suit every budget. To date, Hughes has shipped more
than 2.5 million systems to customers in over 100 countries,
representing over 50 percent market share. Its products employ
global standards approved by the TIA, ETSI, and ITU organizations,
including IPoS/DVB-S2, RSM-A, and GMR-1. Headquartered outside
Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes operates
sales and support offices worldwide, and is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Hughes Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: HUGH). For more
information, please visit www.hughes.com.
©2011 Hughes Network Systems, LLC. Hughes, HughesNet, and
SPACEWAY are registered trademarks of Hughes Network Systems,
LLC.
(1) WSI Corp., December 22,
2010
(2) Homeland Security Newswire, March
2010
SOURCE Hughes Network Systems, LLC