21st Century Classroom

Hughes Debuts Solutions for K-12 and Higher Ed

• By Leila Meyer
• 07/22/15

Hughes Network Systems, a provider of broadband satellite solutions and services, has launched a new suite of products for educational institutions, including high-speed satellite Internet access, digital signage, distance learning and managed wireless networking.

HughesNet Gen4 Satellite Broadband can provide high speed Internet access to rural and remote schools and districts that don't receive terrestrial broadband service. The service is available anywhere in the continental United States, as well as Alaska, Puerto Rice and Canada. It uses a satellite in geosynchronous orbit, meaning it's always in the same location in the sky, so the school's satellite dish doesn't have to switch satellites periodically. According to the company, HughesNet Gen4 satellite broadband service can help districts "meet federally mandated online testing requirements."

HughesON MediaSignage solutions are digital signs that can display dynamic video, text and graphics. According to the company, "schools can mount screens throughout their campuses, customizing and positioning timely information for student, faculty, staff and visitor communications and training, as well as for instant emergency communications."

HughesON Distance Learning solutions are designed to help schools, districts and universities offer distance learning regardless of their location. It includes HughesON MediaTraining Solutions, which offers a video-based virtual classroom, mobile video-on-demand for access from mobile devices and a Web-based learning portal for anywhere, anytime learning.

HughesON Managed Wi-Fi is a fully managed wireless local area networking solution that includes features such as guest Wi-Fi, which enables school visitors to connect to the network while maintaining security of the school's resources.

Hughes Network Systems is an E-rate-approved vendor, meaning that some of its products and solutions are eligible for government funding through the E-rate program, which helps public schools and libraries pay for telecommunications services.

Further information about Hughes' products for education can be found on the company's site.