The sky’s the limit: HECL offers broadband through satellite

Our eFE Bureau in New Delhi

Hughes Escorts Communications Ltd (HECL), a joint venture between Hughes Network Systems (HNS) and Escorts Ltd will roll out its broadband services through satellite by November this year.

With the introduction of broadband services, HECL will also roll out its education training solutions targeting corporates as well as working professionals and Internet kiosks for retail segment. These kiosks will act as a hub for the various corporates to touch base with their employees on tour.

“With the rollout of the broadband services in another month, we will also introduce new services (kiosks for retail segment and education training solutions) as well as advanced version of VSAT solutions,” HECL vice president-Broadband services Ashish Chowdhary told The Financial Express.

HECL which claims to hold 43 per cent of the total satellite market, is hopeful to retain its share for this year as well.

“We are bullish on retaining our share in the satellite market even though we are anticipating the slowdown to hit us,” Mr Chowdhary said.

HECL has launched its application service providers (ASP) services and business portal (hughesindia.com).

The company has also announced its various ASP tie-ups. HECL has tied up with Solix in the area of travel as well as expense management and HR recruting with Jobsahead.com.

Earlier, the company had tied-up with Intelligroup for e-distribution, Commerce One for e-procurement and Talisma for eCRM.

“At this time, when most corporates are looking at cutting costs, our ASP solutions will help them further reduce costs. For example, a corporate will be able to reduce costs up to 30 to 40 per cent by using our CRM ASP solution,” Mr Chowdhary claimed.

The portal will also serve as a platform for enterprise customers to access broadband applications like connectivity through satellite and terrestrial, hosting and ASP services.

“We will target the corporates for our broadband services, but for now we will be targeting the 200 corporates who are already availing our VSAT services,” he said.