01/20/97 DISHING UP THE INTERNET--IN A FLASH

DISHING UP THE INTERNET--IN A FLASH

ATTENTION INTERNET SPEED freaks: The price of a superspeedy satellite Web connection is coming down to earth.
On Jan. 11, at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Hughes Network Systems plans to relaunch DirecPC, an Internet service that works on its direct Digital Satellite System (DSS). Using the 21-in. DSS antenna and receiver, which retails for about $649, DirecPC subscribers will be able to connect to their local Internet and online service providers at a blazingly fast 400 kbps. That's more than 14 times faster than a 28.8 kbps modem and about three times as fast as ISDN, the speediest digital phone lines available to consumers. DirecPC was introduced last year, but it got off to a slow start because of limited availability. Plus consumers had to buy a separate 21-in. dish if they wanted DirecPC service in addition to DirecTV television service, just then starting up. Now, all current DSS owners have to do is buy a circuit card for their PCs. Monthly fees and equipment costs have yet to be determined, since the new service won't be available until April.
EDITED BY PAUL M. ENG