[12-18-07 – Satellite Today] Boeing Co. completed testing of the Spaceway 3 satellite and handed control over to Hughes Network Systems LLC, Boeing announced Dec. 18.
    Spaceway 3, placed into orbit in August, carries 68 Ka-band transponders and will provide HughesNet broadband internet services throughout North America. The spacecraft includes a downlink phased  array antenna, a microwave switch matrix and flight hardware and software.
    "Since the launch in August, everything has proceeded on schedule,  and we are grateful to Boeing for completing the in-orbit placement  successfully,” Pradman Kaul, chairman and CEO of  Hughes, said in a statement.
    The satellite is expected to become operational in the 2008 first quarter.