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It looks like DISH has a significant competitive advantage over Hughes during the next several years.
EchoStar invests in satellite Net service
By Reuters
Special to CNET News.com
April 10, 2000, 1:15 p.m. PT
LITTLETON, Colo.--EchoStar Communications, a U.S. provider of direct broadcast satellite services, said today it had invested $50 million in a joint venture that will provide Internet services to consumers through satellites.
Besides EchoStar, the other partners include Israeli satellite company Gilat Satellite Networks, and software maker Microsoft. With the investment, EchoStar said it will hold approximately a 17.6 percent stake in Gilat-To-Home.
Gilat-To-Home plans to provide consumer, two-way satellite, broadband Internet service later this year through a single small dish, which also will be capable of receiving up to 500 channels of DISH network satellite television programming, EchoStar said.
Under the terms of the agreement, EchoStar said it will distribute the Gilat-To-Home broadband satellite Internet service powered by MSN along with DISH Network satellite TV service through its more than 23,000 retailers nationwide. DISH Network customers will have the opportunity to purchase "always on" access to the Internet with an MSN-Gilat-To-Home cobranded portal.
EchoStar and Gilat had previously announced an agreement to jointly offer consumers high-speed satellite Internet access along with EchoStar's DISH Network satellite television programming through a single consumer dish, EchoStar said.
Story Copyright ¸ 2000 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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