Hyper-Subspace Communications Technology was always the next generation of subspace communication technology. The field hadn’t seen much in the way of progress or breakthroughs until Starfleet kick-started research and developed the Mutara Interdimensional Deep Space Array System, or MIDAS array for short. It’s mission was to open communications with the USS Voyager which had been stranded in the delta quadrant as conventional subspace communications were too slow. The array, in conjunction with a local pulsar succeeded in opening two-way communications with Voyager in the delta quadrant.

Building on that success, Starfleet began constructing the Hyper-Subspace Communication Network. This network would allow faster communication throughout Federation space. At the moment, the network mainly relies on pulsars to operate, meaning that network communication nodes were constructed near Neutron stars and Pulsars.

Recent advances in this field now allow for communications without the need of a natural Neutron star or Pulsar. The technology is currently experimental and only operates on ships with sufficiently sized deflector dishes. Even if a ship has the necessary dish, ships require will require a major refit to utilize the technology. So far only ships operating outside Federation space are planned to receive this refit.

Hyper-Subspace Communications Array
Ships equipped with this technology may instantaneously communicate across large distances. Additionally, ships may receive an automatic success on communication roles at a potential cost. This technology, implemented on starships is not subtle, while in use, anyone monitoring subspace within range will detect the source.

Sidebar: This isn’t so much a problem with Hyper-Subspace Communication Nodes due to their relative proximity to their host Neutron Stars which generate massive amounts of gravimetric and subspace interference.