The Spaceway 3 satellite was launched in August 2007 and will be coming online in March 2008, for residential and (small) business use in the Northeast.

Spaceway is the satellite internet technology supporting HughesNet. Spaceway does not replace HughesNet, it provides a more flexible and robust  service. The hardware consists of a .74 meter dish, a satellite modem, and a 1 or 2 watt transmitter; one watt support residential applications and speeds and the two watts supporting business appication. The modem, which sits in tandem with the dish via a coaxial cable, is connected to your pc via a RJ 45 cable (ethernet).

The technology is considered a "Switch or Router" in the sky, because all of the switching mechanism is done on the spacecraft or satellite. The technology provides 109 Ka spot beams that covers the contiguous 48 states. Spaceway 3 will be able to reach more households from a terrain perspective (29 degree angle) because of the 109 spot beams, and that bandwidth will be improved (meaning up to what they advertise for each package), as well as modest latency improvements (400 ms).

HughesNet will move customers currently having problems with the existing satellite network (they say it's about 5% of existing customers) to the Spaceway 3 system, and will put most new customers on there based on request or need, to free up the existing network.

HughesNet did stress it would not be as fast as topline DSL. Prices are the same as they are currently, although they said in Q3 they are looking at some aggressive incentives. The hardware sells for $299.98 after a Hughes Sponsored $100 mail-in rebate, and the monthly pricing ranges anywhere from $59.99 to $99.99 monthly, depending on your plan of choice. Launch date for the Northeast is March 26th 2008.

Hughes Network Systems was started in 1971 and became part of Hughes Electronics, a subsidiary of General Motors. Hughes electronics also owned DIRECTV. Hughes Electronics was sold to News Corp and the name changed to DIRECTV Group. Hughes Network Systems was spun off and is now a publicly traded company on NASDAQ under the symbol HUGH.