LAS VEGAS —
To compete with cable and telco TV
services’ bundled deals, Dish Network will also look
to soon sweeten its broadband offerings by leveraging
partnerships with satellite-internet service provider
WildBlue and its sister company Hughes Network
Systems.
Joe Clayton, CEO, said WildBlue has developed
a new satellite-delivered broadband service that
is more effective than previous satellite Internet
attempts – offering up to 12Mbps of speed and
12GBs of data capacity. It will, however, require a
second dish on the roof.
He said the improvements should bring a real highspeed
Internet solution to millions of rural homes in
the United States.
“We’ll bundle it with our pay-TV service and the
sweet spot, we think, is a broadband/TV package for
under $100,” said Clayton. “This could be like shooting
fish in a barrel for rural America and that’s where
our strength is.”
A version of the broadband service offered through
partner WildBlue will launch in the first quarter, he
said, and a version provided through Hughes will
commence in the late summer. “We believe the market
is big enough to support two providers,” he said.
