Hughes has reported another quarter of consumer growth and expanding margins and predicts a major turnaround in the North American enterprise market, the company said in its third quarter 2010 results issues Nov. 4.
    EBITDA grew 38 percent over 2009 to $61 million, beating analysts’ predictions of approximately $56 million. Hughes’ service revenues grew 15 percent year-over-year, including a 19 percent increase in the consumer segment.
    Most surprising, however, was Hughes’ reported 20 percent growth in its North American enterprise business, with top-line service revenues growing 18 percent for both the third quarter and year-to-date periods. For the first time in more than a year, Hughes’ enterprise VSAT revenues turned positive. The company said that domestic and international customers are starting to spend more on enterprise solutions. As a result, Hughes recorded record orders of $549 million and finished the quarter with a backlog of $1.04 billion – a 26 percent increase from its position during the same period last year.
    Hughes said the popularity of its equipment lease program has been growing and that it helped the company establish new long-term customers.  Hughes added 13,000 new subscribers to finish the quarter with 558,000 total subscribers.
    Hughes executives said they are now working to beat expectations that competitive pressures will slow the company’s growth rates over the next two years.