EchoStar Communications and its DISH Network satellite TV service have announced that its subsidiary, EchoStar Fixed Satellite Services Corporation (EFSSC), has entered into a contract with Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) to provide domestic Ku-band Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) capacity.
The long-term contract will provide full-time, part-time, and on-demand satellite capacity to support the Sprint Nextel Emergency Response Team (ERT) and Engineering Sales Support (ESS) programs.
Unique to Sprint Nextel, the ERT works side by side with public safety agencies and other customers to coordinate communications during emergencies and other large-scale events. The Sprint Nextel ERT has provided communications support for over 700 federal, state and local public safety and military agencies in over 300 deployments including 23 presidentially declared disasters and emergencies.
"We are extremely pleased to expand our relationship with Sprint Nextel," said Michael Kelly, executive vice president of Commercial and Business Services for EchoStar. "We tailored this solution to fit a very unique set of requirements and appreciate the confidence Sprint Nextel has shown in EchoStar by selecting us to provide these services."
EFSSC will provide transponder restorable and satellite restorable FSS bandwidth from EchoStar 9 at 121 degrees west longitude and AMC 2 at 85 degrees west longitude. In addition to the satellite capacity, EFSSC will also provide engineering resources to support these programs.
"Sprint Nextel leads the nation in creating, deploying and operating a dedicated Emergency Response Team that offers essential, interoperable emergency mobile communications services to businesses and government agencies," said Matt Foosaner, director of the Sprint Nextel ERT. "The recent contract with EchoStar further strengthens Sprint ERT's capability to provide critical communications and connectivity virtually anywhere and at anytime."
The full-time and part-time services provide Sprint Nextel with dedicated satellite capacity allowing the company to purchase satellite capacity as needed, and were designed to support future requirements.
