Dish Launches First New Broadband Satellite in 16 Years

EchoStar XXV will transmit television signals directly to homes and businesses across North America from its geostationary orbit.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Dish Network has launched its first new broadcast satellite since 2010, the EchoStar XXV, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The satellite, built by Lanteris Space Systems, is designed to deliver television content directly to small dishes on homes and businesses across North America from its position in geostationary orbit.

Why it matters

Dish's launch of EchoStar XXV marks a significant milestone for the company, which has not had a new broadcast satellite in orbit since 2010 as the television landscape has shifted towards streaming services. The satellite's advanced capabilities, including multiple independently steerable beams to direct signal capacity where needed, demonstrate Dish's continued commitment to its direct broadcast satellite business despite the rise of cord-cutting.

The details

The EchoStar XXV satellite was launched aboard a Falcon 9 booster making its 14th flight, carrying the satellite to geostationary orbit at 110° west longitude above the Pacific Ocean. The satellite is built on Lanteris' 1300 series bus, a platform that has powered more than 95 spacecraft currently in orbit, including SiriusXM's digital audio radio satellites and hardware supporting NASA's Gateway lunar outpost.

  • The launch of EchoStar XXV took place on Monday, March 9, 2026 at 11:15 p.m. EST.
  • Dish has not had a new broadcast satellite launch since EchoStar XV in 2010, a 16-year gap.

The players

Dish

A major American television provider that has invested in geostationary satellite infrastructure to deliver television content directly to homes and businesses across North America.

Lanteris Space Systems

A satellite manufacturer based in Palo Alto, California, that built the EchoStar XXV satellite on its 1300 series bus platform.

Charlie Ergen

The chairman of Dish, who has been vocal about the company's continued investment in direct broadcast satellite technology despite the rise of streaming services.

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What they’re saying

“We don't think that the [direct broadcast satellite] business is going away. It's still the preferred choice for a lot of Americans in terms of an efficient way to watch TV.”

— Charlie Ergen, Chairman, Dish (Light Reading)

What’s next

Dish has already contracted Lanteris to build EchoStar XXVI, scheduled for delivery in 2028, further demonstrating the company's commitment to its satellite television business.

The takeaway

Dish's launch of EchoStar XXV, its first new broadcast satellite in 16 years, underscores the company's belief in the continued viability of direct broadcast satellite technology despite the growth of streaming services, and its willingness to invest in next-generation satellite infrastructure to serve its customers.