Hughes Communications, a leading global provider of satellite broadband services and managed network services, has announced that it has deployed a satellite broadband network for Union Bank of India (UBI) for running the former’s Core Banking Solution across 400 branches and ATMs in the country. As part of the deployment, Hughes will also connect the UBI network to its Managed Services Network Operations Centre (NOC) in Gurgaon. In addition, Hughes will also set up a 24x7 technical support helpdesk to provide network assistance to UBI.

Valued at Rs 2.2 crore with a contract period of 5 years, the project is being carried out in two phases with the first phase already under completion. The contract includes the deployment of a turnkey network, which encompasses system integration, satellite bandwidth and network management.

V R Iyer, general manager, Union Bank of India said, "If it weren’t for the timely supply and installation of about 315 satellite terminals by Hughes, we would not have brought our remote rural branches into the ambit of Core Banking Solution."

The network is built on satellite-based VPN technology and consists of a central NOC that is connected to the various branches/ATMs of UBI using satellite as a medium. UBI’s data centres are connected to the central managed services NOC of Hughes using terrestrial links.

"Over the years, having worked with over 50 banks in the country, we understand the importance of speed in any deployment. For UBI, we had a dedicated team working 24X7 to complete the project in the required time. This has enabled UBI to become the first large nationalised bank with a 100 percent core banking solution", says Partho Banerjee, president and CEO, Hughes Communications – India.