Pradman Kaul, Chairman and CEO of Hughes Network Systems has been named Via Satellite magazine’s ‘Satellite Executive of the Year’ for the year 2008. 

The award was in recognition to Kaul’s leadership in starting the commercial launch of the SPACEWAY broadband satellite system. Also the company was able to maintain its leadership in the enterprise VSAT segment in US as well as internationally. Additionally the firm also launched HughesNet high-speed satellite internet access business to over 400,000 consumer/SMS subscribers in the USA.

“Pradman Kaul has proven himself a visionary and entrepreneur in the satellite marketplace, a fact which is confirmed by his success in 2008,” said Jason Bates, editor of Via Satellite. “Thanks to Kaul’s leadership and the acumen of his experienced management team, we are looking forward to what will be accomplished by Hughes in 2009 and beyond.”

 “It is indeed an honor to receive this recognition by the leading publication in the satellite industry,” said Kaul. “2008 was especially significant because our team succeeded in validating SPACEWAY 3’s commercial success?rolling out nationwide service to over 100,000 new customers, while continuing to expand our broadband satellite footprint worldwide.”