The SPACEWAY system was originally envisioned as a global Ka band communications system by Hughes Electronics. When the project to build the system was taken over by Hughes Network Systems, a subsidiary of Hughes Electronics, it was transformed into a phased deployment initially only launching a North American satellite system. This is in comparison to other more ambitious systems such as Teledesic Teledesic Suspends Work Under Satellite Contract and Astrolink which retained their full global na… (More on Spaceway)