[Satellite TODAY 10-25-10] Globecomm Systems has won an $18 million, five-year Ka-band infrastructure contract from Hughes Network Systems, Globecomm announced Oct. 22.
    Globecomm will design, install, and test multiple Ka-band earth stations within the United States as part of broadband satellite service infrastructure owned and operated by Hughes. The turnkey contract scope includes monitoring and control software for all subsystems, allowing remote monitoring and control from distant operational centers, and life cycle support. The agreement includes options, which if exercised, would bring the total contract value up to $24 million over 5 years.
    Hughes said that by employing Globecomm’s earth stations, the company would be able to deliver very high-speed communications services to potentially 1.5 million or more customer terminals operating over its next-generation Jupiter satellite system, scheduled for launch in early 2012.
    “From a technology perspective, the company is well positioned to meet the engineering challenges, as we have been investing heavily in Ka-band research and development for the ground segment requirements needed to support numerous launches of Ka-band satellites anticipated over the next few years,” Globecomm Chairman and CEO David Hershberg said in a statement.