[Satellite Today 06-18-09] Hughes Network Systems will launch a next-generation, high throughput satellite in the first quarter of 2012 to expand its broadband Internet service across North America, the company announced June 16.
    Hughes has selected Space Systems / Loral (SS/L) to manufacture the satellite based on the SS/L 1300 platform, designed to deliver over 100 Gbps throughput and utilize an enhanced version of the IPoS broadband satellite standard, Hughes said.   
    The new satellite will employ a multi-spot beam, bent pipe Ka-band architecture to augment Hughes’ Spaceway 3 satellite system, put into commercial service in April 2008.