Hughes, Comat Sign Contract To Provide Broadband Services Across Rural India

Hughes India (HUGHES) has signed a contract with Comat Technologies to supply ten thousand broadband satellite terminals, together with its nationwide HughesNet satellite services and applications to be delivered at rural business centers across multiple states in India. Comat is one of the premier e-governance organization in India. Hughes is a providers of broadband satellite networks and services.

Speaking about the agreement with Hughes, Comat President Sriram Raghavan stated, “Comat has established a unique blend of content and delivery that has allowed the concept of a community services center (CSC) to be become a reality. Together with Hughes, the company is now gearing up to deploy these CSC’s throughout India’s rural regions.”

Pradman Kaul, President and CEO of Hughes, added that “this agreement demonstrates our collective ability to close the so-called digital divide in rural India, combining our advanced equipment technology, HughesNet satellite broadband services, and Comat’s e-governance applications.”

This agreement will bring benefits of high-speed internet access and value-added applications such as distance learning on an affordable rates, Kaul claimed.

The Hughes and Comat consortium won the right to roll out the kiosks in Sikkim, Tripura and various parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Uttaranchal through a competitive bidding process for the Government of India’s Community Services Centers. Pranav Roach, President and CEO of Hughes India said, “Two thousand of the 10 thousand terminals have already been delivered, and we are working closely with Comat to ensure smooth deployment of the HughesNet Fusion Services at these rural centres in the five states.”