Hughes Network Systems campus in Germantown, MD. Photo Credit: Hughes

Hughes, an EchoStar company, was named to the 2018 Fortune Change the World List, a ranking of  top companies that make positive social impact as part of their core business strategy. Fortune selected Hughes for the company’s efforts to connect people, businesses, and communities; as well as bridging the digital divide and contributing to disaster preparedness and recovery.

Hughes provides enterprises, governments, service providers, and consumers on six continents with technologies and services, according to the release. Hughes invented the Very Small Aperature Terminal (VSAT) satellite communications system — making satellite networks affordable for businesses — and pioneered residential high-speed satellite internet service to help close the digital divide for those outside the reach of terrestrial internet access.

As cited by Fortune, Hughes technology enables communications during times of disaster, such as when Hurricane Maria erased 2,400 miles of transmission lines in Puerto Rico. Hughes deployed over 1,500 VSATs to connect residents, hospitals and first responders. Fortune evaluated and identified the top companies based on four criteria including measurable social impact, the business result in terms of profitability and contribution to shareholder value, degree of innovation, and corporate integration.