Hughes secures Rs 33-crore contract from C-Edge

Hughes Communications India (HCIL) has bagged a Rs 33-crore project from C-Edge, a joint venture between TATA Consultancy Services and the State Bank of India , for connecting 3,000 NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development ) bank branches with a satellite broadband network

About 140 banks have evinced interest in the project and have entered into agreements with NABARD. .

As part of the project, Hughes and its HN System would also provide turnkey networking solution and services to connect various district central cooperative banks and state apex banks in the country. The branches are being integrated onto a central core banking solution, with the first phase covering the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

"We are delighted and privileged that C-Edge has chosen HCIL for this significant banking sector project," said Partho Banerjee, president and managing director, HCIL.

"Our managed services solution is unique in providing high availability connectivity at all sites by employing broadband satellite as the primary technology and backup over other wireless technologies. Satellite is one of the fastest growing broadband technologies in India and is playing a significant role in facilitating the expansion of the banking sector in India, reaching ever more citizens through its continent-wide reach," he added.

Hughes Communications India is a subsidiary of Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes), the world's largest provider of broadband satellite networks and services. HCIL is the largest satellite service operator in India, providing a comprehensive range of broadband networking technologies, solutions, and services for businesses and governments.