Wednesday, June 19, 2002
Hughes Software Systems (HSSL) today announced an agreement
with NEC Corporation, the world's leading provider of Internet,
broadband network and enterprise business solutions, to enhance
NEC's routers, switches and IP applications that are used
for building IP optimised backbones as well
as edge and access solutions.
HSSL is a specialist in convergent network software
and a leader in providing GPRS, UMTS as well as VoP software
to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
HSSL is working with NEC as a strategic partner
to make NEC's product lines the most competitive in the market.
Under the agreement, HSSL is developing features
for existing NEC products, working on testing process improvement
initiatives as well as evaluating new areas in line with emerging
technology trends to create additional business opportunities
for NEC.
HSSL has set up a state-of-the-art dedicated
development facility at Gurgaon for this specific purpose.
The offshore facility will conform to NEC's stringent international
standards, and will also cater to potential expansion of the
co-operation.
"HSSL is uniquely positioned to support
NEC in providing superior solutions to its customers by bringing
in our domain knowledge and technology base in the convergence
arena," said Manoranjan Mohapatra, executive vice-president
and chief operating officer of HSS.
"We believe that this relationship has
vast potential, and we are confident that our relationship
with NEC will evolve further and set a new benchmark in customer
value creation," he added.
Earlier this month, HSSL unveiled its Service
Creation Environment (SCE) product at Supercomm 2002 in Atlanta.
HSSL's SCE is a web-based, network-centric,
easy-to-use GUI programming environment to design, develop,
test and maintain services in a fast, easy and flexible manner.
It allows for the creation of customer-driven convergent services
for PSTN, Wireline (IP) and Wireless Networks.
HSSL also announced that it has bagged a contract
from Thrane & Thrane, a leading supplier of Inmarsat terminals
& ground stations, for supplying Radio Network Controller
(RNC) side UMTS stacks & services to implement a Core
Network Gateway (CNG).
The solution will be used as a bridge between
proprietary satellite network technology and 3G services to
the user. For the end user, this entails the usage of satellite
wireless for broadband 3G applications and usage. This fixed
price contract entails the supply of core 3G stacks and development
services for interfacing in a mobile network.
HSSL also released its upgraded SIGTRAN suite
of protocol stacks consisting of the SCTP software product.
The SCTP stack is part of the complete range of SIGTRAN Suite
protocols like M2UA, M2PA, M3UA, IUA and SUA. The products
are available from HSSL in the source code and binary
form.
Last month, HSSL announced a tie-up with solutions
provider Motorola to provide mediation and service activation
solution for Bharat Sanchar Nigam's (BSNL) cellular technology
GSM network. This is the first time that HSSL has partnered
with a leading vendor such as Motorola in India for
implementing its ready-to-deploy billing mediation solution.
HSSL is a subsidiary of Hughes Network Systems
(HNS), a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation (HEC). HNS
is a networking company, dedicated to providing products and
services to build and operate digital communication networks
worldwide. HNS is the world leader in VSAT-based networks.
HEC is a world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing
of advanced electronic systems. It was a wholly-owned subsidiary
of General Motors Corporation, USA.
HNS India Inc is the principal shareholder in
HSSL. The promoter holding in HSSL is 55.72%.
However, on 29 October 2001, General Motors
entered into an agreement to sell HEC to EchoStar Communications
Corp for $25.8 billion in cash and shares. General Motors
and HEC together with EchoStar Communications signed definitive
agreements that provide for the spin-off of HEC from GM and
the merger of HEC with EchoStar.
This merged company would use the EchoStar name
and adopt the DIRECTV brand for its services and related products.
HSSL has posted a net profit of Rs 12.7 crore
for the quarter ended 31 March 2002 as compared to Rs 22.1
crore in the corresponding period previous fiscal. Total income
decreased from Rs 64.5 crore in the quarter ended 31 March
2001 to Rs 61.2 crore in the quarter ended 31 March 2002.
The company has posted a net profit of Rs 52.2
crore for the year ended 31 March 2002 as compared to Rs 62.9
crore for the previous year ending 31 March 2001. Total income
increased from Rs 209.5 crore in the financial year ended
31 March 2001 to Rs 248.1 crore in the year ended 31 March
2002.
The HSSL scrip closed 0.65% higher at
Rs 221.50 on the BSE today, with a volume of 1,09,599 shares.
Last updated : February 2, 2004
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