Dan Losada, vice president & general manager of the International Division at Hughes, leads the company’s international sales team, responsible for satellite broadband systems sales around the globe, and maintaining the company’s competitive edge as the world’s leading VSAT provider.
Dan has more than 30 years of experience in satellite and wireless communication technology development and implementation. His knowledge of the complete life cycle of satellite technology makes him one of the main global sources of information and advice on connectivity projects, as well as a reference for leaders in the satellite community in the public, industrial, and military sectors.
Prior to his current role, Dan was senior director of the Defense and Intelligence Systems Division at Hughes, supporting the U.S. military during its transition to Internet Protocol (IP)-based broadband systems.
Dan earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is also PMP certified. Dan has published papers on communication systems and design and speaks frequently at industry conferences and panels worldwide.
Good day, Mr. Losada. How is Hughes Europe supporting defense customers with secure, high-performance connectivity solutions?
Dan Losada
Hughes Europe delivers tailored connectivity solutions engineered for the rigorous demands of defense operations. Our managed satellite and terrestrial networks are optimized for resilience, latency-sensitive applications, and secure data transport.
Our solutions are built on the Hughes JUPITER™ System, the industry’s most widely deployed high-throughput satellite platform. With advanced capacity management and dynamic traffic optimization, the JUPITER System provides reliable, scalable performance to support defense missions anywhere in the world.
To strengthen security and agility, our Smart Network Edge capability integrates software-defined networking (SDN), Zero Trust security, and intelligent orchestration at the edge. This approach extends secure connectivity and policy enforcement all the way to forward operating locations, mobile units, and remote command centers—empowering defense organizations to maintain control and real-time situational awareness.
Additionally, we provide advanced terminal solutions, including Flexible Modem Interfaces developed by our Defense team. These support waveform-agnostic operations and integration with sovereign constellations such as Skynet and Spainsat, delivering secure communications critical for missions and ensuring continuity when transitioning between sovereign and commercial networks.
Our OneWeb ESA terminals, such as the 1100 model shown to the right, offer a secure, high-throughput alternative to Starlink and other commercial systems, enabling defense users to operate across low-latency LEO networks. For European defense agencies, this means greater resilience and the ability to leverage diverse transport options as operational needs evolve.
Through our integrated Managed Network Services and Managed Security offerings, defense forces can operate seamlessly across borders, maintaining real-time access to mission-critical applications—even in contested or remote environments.
How is Hughes adapting its hardware to meet Europe’s data sovereignty and cybersecurity requirements?
Dan Losada
We take a rigorous approach to designing and configuring our networking and security platforms to comply with stringent European standards, including GDPR, local data residency mandates, and evolving frameworks such as the NIS2 Directive.
This includes local hosting options, secure VPN and SD-WAN technologies, and Zero Trust frameworks integrated into our Managed SASE and SSE services—ensuring European customers retain control over their data without sacrificing performance.
`Hughes further supports sovereignty and compliance via the deployment of Hughes JUPITER™ System gateways and terminals throughout Europe. These enable local processing and routing of sensitive traffic in line with national defense and critical infrastructure standards. The platforms incorporate advanced encryption, secure management interfaces, and options for FIPS-compliant configurations.
For example, the HM System, developed in partnership with Airbus Defence and Space, delivers secure Skynet X-band communications through compact, software-definable terminals that can be rapidly deployed or integrated into mobile command centers.
We also integrate with sovereign satellite systems such as Skynet, Spainsat, and the emerging IRIS² services, offering ground segment support and secure terrestrial backhaul. Our Flexible Modem Interfaces and HM System provide the versatility to adapt to evolving European mission requirements across a broad range of protected waveforms and constellations, ensuring continuity of service in contingency scenarios.
IRIS², in particular, is a transformational program that embodies Europe’s ambition to achieve strategic autonomy in secure satellite communications. With as many as 290 satellites across low and medium Earth orbits and a strong focus on defense-grade encryption and resilience, IRIS² represents a cornerstone of future European space security. Hughes has been actively aligning our systems architecture and hardware roadmap with IRIS² specifications to ensure seamless integration when services come online.
With Smart Network Edge, these capabilities enable customers to operate secure, high-performance hybrid networks that meet European compliance requirements while maintaining flexibility to adapt as regulations evolve. This includes preparing for regulatory mandates such as on-soil data routing, encrypted payload handling, and operational transparency—elements increasingly required by European ministries of defense and critical infrastructure agencies.
How do Hughes engineering expertise and partnerships create value for government and defense clients in Europe?
Dan Losada
With decades of experience designing, deploying, and managing large-scale networks, Hughes brings deep engineering insight that translates into mission-ready solutions.
Our strong partnerships with leading satellite operators, European telcos, and cybersecurity providers ensure seamless integration across space and terrestrial networks. This approach delivers the performance, interoperability, and rapid deployment capabilities needed to sustain operations.
We are also an active participant in IRIS²—a €10 billion European initiative to build a secure, multi-orbit constellation that strengthens Europe’s digital and strategic autonomy. IRIS² will deliver capacity dedicated to defense, crisis response, and border surveillance, while also supporting commercial broadband services for remote communities.
The program is governed by the SpaceRISE consortium, bringing together European champions such as SES, Eutelsat, Airbus, and Hispasat, along with contributions from small and midsize enterprise (SMEs) specializing in cybersecurity, encryption technologies, and satellite payloads. Hughes is contributing expertise in ground infrastructure, waveform-agnostic modem technology, and standards-based orchestration to ensure our systems are fully compatible as IRIS² services come online.
Which satellite or network technologies does Hughes see as most promising for defense use over the next few years?
Dan Losada
Multi-orbit networks that blend GEO and LEO capacity are reshaping defense communications by offering unprecedented flexibility and resilience. High-throughput GEO systems provide consistent capacity and coverage, while LEO constellations deliver low-latency performance ideal for mobile and tactical operations. Technologies such as SD-WAN and Zero Trust Network Access, delivered as part of our Managed SASE platform, are critical enablers of secure, dynamic routing across these hybrid environments.
IRIS² is emblematic of this shift toward multi-layered architectures. Designed to operate as a sovereign alternative to U.S. systems like Starshield and Starlink, IRIS² will combine secure defense capacity with civil broadband and offer coverage extending into Africa and the Arctic. Its adoption of standardized 5G NTN protocols will help European governments bridge terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks more seamlessly.
Hughes is investing in waveform-agnostic terminals, Flexible Modem Interfaces, and software-definable networking solutions to ensure defense agencies can adapt to changing operational demands. As sovereign and commercial ecosystems continue to diverge, we believe modular, standards-based platforms will be essential to maintaining resilience and interoperability.
How does Hughes ensure reliable, secure connectivity for defense operations in remote or multi-country environments?
Dan Losada
Hughes leverages a global network of points of presence, advanced satellite ground infrastructure, and managed cybersecurity services to deliver secure, high-performance connectivity. Whether it’s borderless SD-WAN, encrypted transport, or real-time threat monitoring through our managed security service provider (MSSP) offerings, Hughes ensures seamless, resilient operations in even the most demanding multi-theater scenarios.
In 2024, Hughes Europe took this commitment a step further by launching new services in collaboration with Telespazio, built on the Eutelsat Konnect VHTS satellite and powered by the Hughes JUPITER™ System Series 3.
This Fully Managed Multi-Orbit Network solution includes waveform-agnostic ISR terminals and secure standalone 5G solutions—designed specifically to meet the high data rate demands and security requirements of European military and governmental operations. The initiative expands the reach of Hughes into pan-European defense and government sectors.
Additionally, we are aligning our ground infrastructure, orchestration platforms, and Smart Network Edge capabilities to integrate with IRIS² as it comes online. The program’s multi-orbit design and dedicated defense capacity will provide an essential layer of redundancy for crisis response and critical infrastructure protection.
These innovations are complemented by our participation in IRIS², the OneWeb next-generation system, and our support for sovereign networks such as Skynet, Spainsat, Syracuse IV, and SATCOMBw. This combination empowers European defense organizations with trusted, sovereign, and resilient connectivity wherever the mission leads.
Finally, our continued investment in partnerships with sovereign programs ensures European governments have secure, interoperable solutions whether supporting humanitarian relief operations or secure military command-and-control. Hughes delivers the assurance needed to sustain critical communications under any conditions.
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