Hughes Network Systems has announced that the EchoStar XVII satellite built by Space Systems/Loral was successfully launched and placed into geostationary transfer orbit by Arianespace, setting the stage for the new HughesNet Gen 4 satellite Internet services offering dramatically increased performance and capacity.

The Ariane 5 rocket lifted off July 5, 2012 at 5:36 p.m. eastern time from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 ECA launcher.

The rocket left the spacecraft in a geosynchronous transfer orbit at approximately 6:03 p.m. eastern time. Space Systems/Loral's Mission Control Center in Palo Alto, California reported spacecraft acquisition at 6:20 p.m. eastern time when signals were received at the ground station in Hassan, Karnataka in India. Space Systems/Loral reports that all systems are functioning properly.

Extensive tests will be completed after the spacecraft is maneuvered into a circular orbit 22,300 miles above the equator at 107.1 degrees West longitude. Hughes expects to begin commercial operations this Fall.

The Ka-band EchoStar XVII with JUPITER high-throughput technology will enable HughesNet Gen4-Hughes' fourth-generation satellite Internet service.

HughesNet Gen4 will dramatically increase Internet browsing performance and support high-bandwidth applications such as video and music.

HughesNet Gen4 customers will be able to experience faster speeds and the industry's greatest download capacity so they can experience Internet connectivity at its fullest.

"The addition of EchoStar XVII to our existing satellite capacity, ground network, and services takes satellite Internet to the next dimension," said Pradman Kaul, president of Hughes.

"Our HughesNet Gen4 customers will be able to enjoy a media-rich world like never before. We congratulate the Arianespace and Space Systems/Loral teams on a flawless launch."