EchoStar

EchoStar Corporation is an American company, a worldwide provider of satellite communication and Internet services through its Hughes Network Systems and EchoStar Satellite Services business segments.

EchoStar Corporation
Public
Traded asNASDAQ: SATS (Class A)
Russell 1000 Component
ISINUS2787681061 
IndustryTelecommunication
Founded1980
FounderCharlie Ergen 
HeadquartersEnglewood, Colorado, United States
Key people
ProductsSatellite Services
Revenue US$3.056 billion (2016) [1]
US$364.4 million (2016) [1]
US$179.9 million (2016) [1]
Total assets US$9.008 billion (2016) [1]
Total equity US$3.920 billion (2016) [1]
Number of employees
2000 Q4 (Dec 2016) [2]
SubsidiariesHughes Network Systems
Websiteechostar.com

Prior to 2008, it operated the DISH Network service brand, which was spun off as DISH on January 1, 2008.

History

EchoStar was originally formed in 1980 by its chairman Charles Ergen as a distributor of C band TV systems. In 1987, it applied for a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) license with the Federal Communications Commission and was granted access to orbital slot 119° west longitude in 1992.

On December 28, 1995, the firm successfully launched its first satellite, EchoStar I.[3] On March 4, 1996, it established the DISH Network brand name to market its home satellite TV system.[4]

On January 2, 2008, the DISH Network business was demerged from the technology and infrastructure side of the business. A split in the shares created two companies; the former EchoStar Communications Corporation changed its name to DISH Network Corporation[5] which consisted mainly of the DISH Network business, and EchoStar Corporation, which retained ownership of the technology side including the satellites, Sling Media, and the set-top box development arm. DISH Network completed its distribution to EchoStar of its digital set-top box business, certain infrastructure, and other assets and related liabilities, including certain of their satellites, uplink and satellite transmission assets, and real estate (the "Spin-off"). Since the Spin-off, EchoStar and DISH Network have operated as separate publicly traded companies.[6] In addition, a substantial majority of the voting power of the shares of DISH Network and EchoStar is owned beneficially by Charles W. Ergen, Chairman, and by certain trusts established by Mr. Ergen for the benefit of his family.

On February 14, 2011, EchoStar announced that it would acquire Hughes Communications in a deal valued at US$1.3 billion.[7]

On January 31, 2017, EchoStar announced that it had reached an agreement with DISH to transfer the EchoStar Technologies businesses, which designed, developed and distributed digital set-top boxes, provided satellite uplinking and broadcast services and developed and supported streaming video technology back to DISH.[8] The transaction was completed on January 31, 2017,[9] substantially returning DISH to its pre-2008 status as a set-top-box hardware manufacturer.

In March 2017, after two delays caused by weather worries, SpaceX delivered EchoStar XXIII into orbit. The satellite was launched on a Falcon 9 Rocket and provides broadcast services for Brazil.[10] Because EchoStar XXIII is a heavy satellite, this mission did not include a rocket landing post-takeoff, as it would require too much fuel. This was the first time a purely commercial satellite was launched from a pad that once served as the base for Apollo moon trips and space shuttle flights.[11][12]

On May 20, 2019, EchoStar announced[8] that it had reached an agreement with DISH Network Corporation to transfer the portion of the business which managed and provided broadcast satellite services, referred to as the BSS (Broadcast Satellite Services) business, to DISH in order to concentrate on broadband services and other initiatives. The transaction was completed on September 10, 2019.[13]

Satellite fleet
Orbital locations may change

Since EchoStar frequently moves satellites among its many orbiting slots this list is not immediately accurate. Refer to Lyngsat.com for detailed satellite information.

EchoStar satellites
SatelliteLocationLaunch dateLauncherSatellite busUsage / notes
EchoStar IX / Galaxy 23121.0° W7 August 2003Zenit-3SLFS-1300Capacity on this Ku-band satellite is available for lease on a transponder basis. The satellite is jointly owned by EchoStar and Intelsat: Ku band and Ka band payloads owned by EchoStar, C band payload owned by Intelsat and designated Galaxy 23.
EchoStar XVII (Jupiter 1)107.0° W5 July 2012[14]Ariane 5[15]LS-1300Provides 100 Gbit/s of capacity for HughesNet Gen4 product, offering two-way satellite Internet speeds of up to 15 Mbit/s and data allowances up to 40 Gbits.[16]
EchoStar XIX (Jupiter 2)97.1° W18 December 2016Atlas VSSL 1300High-speed Internet services for HughesNet in North America[17]
EchoStar XXI10.25° E8 June 2017Proton-MSSL 1300Mobile broadband services over Europe with an S-band payload for EchoStar Mobile Ltd (formerly known as TerreStar 2)[18]
EchoStar 105 / SES-11105.0° W11 October 2017Falcon 9Eurostar E3000provides Ku-Band transponder capacity, with coverage of the 50 U.S. states, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, replacing AMC-15. Owned by SES S.A. of Luxembourg.

References
  1. "Financial Statements for Echostar Corporation". Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  2. "Echostar Corporation(NASDAQ:SATS)". Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  3. Ford, Dominic. "ECHOSTAR 1 - In-The-Sky.org". in-the-sky.org. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  4. HOGAN, MONICA. "EchoStar Toasts a Decade of Dish Network". Multichannel. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  5. "SEC Filing | Dish". ir.dish.com. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  6. Savitz, Eric. "EchoStar Completes Spinoff; Worth More In Parts?". www.barrons.com. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  7. de la Merced, Michael (14 February 2011). "EchoStar in $1.3 Billion Deal for Hughes Communications". The New York Times.
  8. "EchoStar Announces Agreement to Transfer BSS Business to DISH". EchoStar Corporation. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  9. "EchoStar Announces Exchange Agreement for Tracking Stock". EchoStar Corporation. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  10. Foust, Jeff (16 March 2017). "SpaceX launches EchoStar 23". SpaceNews.com. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  11. Grush, Loren (2017-03-13). "SpaceX successfully launched a communications satellite on its Falcon 9 rocket". The Verge. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
  12. "After delay, SpaceX launches EchoStar satellite – but forgoes rocket landing". GeekWire. 2017-03-16. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
  13. "EchoStar Announces Completion of the Spin-Off and Merger of its BSS Business". EchoStar Corporation. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  14. "EchoStar XVII Launch Page". EchoStar. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  15. "Ariane launches communications, weather satellites". spacetoday.net. July 6, 2012.
  16. "New satellite to offer speeds comparable to DSL and Cable to residents living in rural areas". A-SAT. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  17. "EchoStar XIX Mission Booklet" (PDF). ULA. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  18. "Proton returns to flight successfully with EchoStar-21". www.russianspaceweb.com. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
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