Hughes Network Systems LLC

Hughes Network Systems LLC, doing business as Hughes, is a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation and a leading provider of broadband satellite services and managed network solutions to the federal government. Headquartered in Germantown, Maryland, the company is a large business prime contractor registered in SAM.gov since October 2003, with its registration currently set to expire on June 4, 2026. Hughes has established itself as a strategic technology partner for federal agencies by delivering advanced satellite communications technologies, network management services, and critical infrastructure support across both defense and civilian government operations. The company specializes in satellite-based connectivity solutions, telecommunications equipment, and emergency communications capabilities that enable federal agencies to maintain reliable communication networks in remote locations and during disaster response operations.

Hughes Network Systems LLC has demonstrated extensive federal contracting experience through a diverse portfolio of prime contract awards spanning multiple agencies and service categories. The company has received significant delivery orders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) totaling millions of dollars for satellite communication services in support of disaster recovery operations, particularly in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, where Hughes has provided redundant satellite communication services, voice and data communication via its proprietary Gen5Net technology, and HughesNet satellite services. Beyond FEMA, Hughes has served the Department of Defense through contracts with the Defense Information Systems Agency, Air Force Research Laboratory, Naval Observatory, and Joint Munitions Command, providing services ranging from satellite-based communications and space data networking experimentation to 5G Open RAN development and advanced battle management systems support. The company has also contracted with civilian agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs for satellite uplink transponder bandwidth services and digital signage solutions, the National Cemetery Administration for WiFi infrastructure and internet services, the Transportation Security Administration for tactical communications, the Bureau of Reclamation for satellite broadband services, and the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management for network services supporting satellite and DSL technologies. Hughes' contract awards have been issued without small business set-asides, reflecting its status as a large business prime contractor, and have involved both firm fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee arrangements. Additionally, Hughes has served as a subcontractor to major defense contractors including General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, providing high data rate satellite modems and testing services, as well as to Booz Allen Hamilton and Boeing Satellite Systems, demonstrating its role within larger defense supply chains.

Hughes Network Systems LLC holds several significant Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicles that position the company as a critical technology partner for federal space and communications initiatives. Most notably, the company was awarded a $13 billion Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) Satellite-Based Services contract by the Defense Information Systems Agency on July 15, 2025, representing a ten-year vehicle through July 17, 2028, which was subsequently followed by another $13 billion PLEO contract awarded on July 18, 2023, with performance extending through July 17, 2033. These contracts provide emerging, commercial, low-latency PLEO services and capabilities to support mission partners' operations, and Hughes has already issued initial task orders under these vehicles to establish baseline services. Additionally, Hughes holds a $2.67 billion Department of Defense Wireless Mobility Services contract awarded by the Naval Supply Systems Command on May 8, 2024, with a ten-year performance period extending through May 7, 2034, which enables the company to provide a full range of wireless technologies, operations, and telecommunications services to DoD military and federal civilian personnel across the United States, its territories, and international locations. The company was awarded a $950 million Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) IDIQ contract by the Department of the Air Force on July 8, 2021, with performance through May 28, 2030, supporting the Air Force's joint all-domain command and control initiatives. Hughes also holds a $6.5 million Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) under the CORNERSTONE OTA program for 5G Open RAN development, awarded by the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command on October 28, 2024, with completion scheduled for October 30, 2027. The company maintains a General Services Administration Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract with a $500,000 ceiling awarded on April 8, 2024, extending through April 7, 2029, which encompasses information technology products and services including fixed and mobile VSAT systems, managed broadband services, satellite-based network access solutions, digital signage, and WiFi services with geographic coverage spanning multiple continents. These IDVs have generated numerous task orders from agencies such as FEMA, Transportation Security Administration, Air Force Research Laboratory, Veterans Affairs, Department of Transportation, Defense Health Agency, and multiple others, establishing Hughes as a foundational technology provider across the federal government's satellite communications and advanced telecommunications infrastructure.