Hughes and Avanti Expand Ka-Band Satellite Services Footprint

GERMANTOWN, Md. and MILTON KEYNES, England, April 28 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) today announced an $18 million, multi- year agreement to supply Avanti Communications Group, plc with advanced Ka- band networking infrastructure for Avanti's HYLAS 2 satellite, building on the initial $24 million contract to supply Ka-band technology for HYLAS 1 signed last October. Both deals include acquisition of satellite capacity by Hughes, which will be used to expand its Ka-band broadband services across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Under the agreement, Hughes will supply Avanti with 48 advanced Ka-band system gateways for HYLAS 2, scheduled for launch in 2012, thereby raising the total to 56 gateways for both satellites, and complementing the prior order for 50,000 customer premise terminals. This powerful Ka-band architecture will enable the industry's most efficient delivery of bandwidth-demanding services, such as digital signage and distance learning for enterprises, and large- scale, high-speed Internet services for consumers and small businesses. In addition, it will open new potential for government and defense applications throughout the region, from high-speed Internet access for troops in the field, to sophisticated broadband on-the-move solutions. Taken together, HYLAS 1 and 2 have the capacity to serve a population of approximately 1 million broadband sites.

"This is the second stage of an exciting win-win agreement with Avanti, and validates our leadership in Ka-band technology and services," said Pradman Kaul, chairman and CEO of Hughes. "It positions us to rapidly expand Ka-band services across Europe and the Middle East-especially for consumers and small businesses, building on the momentum of our record-breaking success delivering HughesNet(R) satellite Internet service in North America, now with over 500,000 consumer subscribers, making it the largest broadband satellite service on the planet."

Hughes, the world's largest satellite broadband service provider, operates on more than 20 satellites covering the globe. It owns and operates service businesses in North America, Europe, India, and Brazil, augmented by a rapidly growing base of independent service providers operating in over 100 countries.

About Hughes Network Systems

Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is the global leader in providing broadband satellite networks and services for large enterprises, governments, small businesses, and consumers. HughesNet encompasses all broadband solutions and managed services from Hughes, bridging the best of satellite and terrestrial technologies. Its broadband satellite products are based on global standards approved by the TIA, ETSI and ITU standards organizations, including IPoS/DVB-S2, RSM-A and GMR-1. To date, Hughes has shipped more than 2.2 million systems to customers in over 100 countries.

Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes maintains sales and support offices worldwide. Hughes is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: HUGH). For additional information, please visit http://www.hughes.com .

(C) 2010 Hughes Network Systems, LLC. Hughes and HughesNet are registered trademarks of Hughes Network Systems, LLC. Nasdaq

    For additional information:

     In Asia Pacific:
     Donna Garcia
     Rice Communications for Hughes
     Tel:   +65 9734 8808
     Email: [email protected]

     Hemalatha Subramaniam
     Rice Communications for Hughes
     Tel:   +65 9296 4092
     Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Hughes Network Systems, LLC