[Satellite Today – 4-7-08] Hughes Network Systems LLC has activated the first HughesNet consumer subscriber for broadband Internet service on the Spaceway 3 satellite, Hughes announced April 7.
    Spaceway 3, which was launched in August, is a Ka-band broadband satellite system. The satellite has 10 gigabits per second of gross capacity.
    "With this significant milestone, our Spaceway 3 satellite has officially commenced carrying revenue-bearing traffic, making Hughes a fully integrated service provider," said Pradman Kaul, president and CEO of Hughes in a statement. "We are excited to begin delivering HughesNet broadband services over the world’s first commercial satellite with on-board switching to our rapidly growing base of consumer, SMB, enterprise and government customers throughout North America."