Hughes and IPNet Sign Expansion Contract in Russia

GERMANTOWN, Md., April 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the world's leading provider of broadband satellite networks and services, announced today that IPNet, one of Russia's leading satellite service providers, has purchased advanced Hughes HX and HN broadband satellite terminals, bringing its total network to over 2400 sites serving oil and gas companies, retail chains, and small to medium enterprises.

IPNet has been successfully providing broadband services in the Russian Federation since 2003, operating both an HN System, and recently purchased HX System with the industry-leading IPoS/ DVB-S2 standard, including ACM (Adaptive Coding and Modulation). The Hughes solution enables IPNet to increase efficiency of bandwidth utilization by up to 50 percent, which is critical to handling the significant growth anticipated by IPNet in 2010 and beyond.

"We anticipate healthy market growth, and that our customers will require more and higher bandwidth services this year and beyond," said Stanislav Kanapin, CEO of IPNet. "The powerful family of HN and HX terminals from Hughes gives us a full range of price/performance to meet all customer requirements, while providing a very cost-effective path to increase overall capacity of our network."

The HN and HX platforms employ the most efficient implementation of the IPoS/ DVB-S2 industry standard with ACM, the first global satellite standard approved by TIA in North America, and ETSI and ITU in Europe.

"This expansion contract by IPNet reaffirms our leadership in finding innovative ways to help our customers get the most out of their network investment," said Dr. Arunas Slekys, vice president and general manager, Russia/CIS region at Hughes. "It positions IPNet well to capitalize on the healthy growth of broadband service forecasted in Russia over the next few years as the economy recovers."

About IPNet

Founded in 2000, IPNet is a Russian Federal satellite services provider. It owns and operates a central hub station in Moscow. IPNet offers licensed telecommunication services in all regions of the Russian Federation by utilizing a wide range of Hughes broadband satellite equipment. Its major clients include companies from the oil and gas, energy and retail industries, as well as government agencies and ISPs. Applications provided include broadband Internet access, data transmission, voice, videoconferencing, video, multi-casting, and package delivery. IPNet is actively expanding its dealer network in the most regions of Russia, and invites all interested parties from the regions to partner with the company. For additional information, please visit www.zaoipnet.ru.

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 www.hughes.com.

©2010 Hughes Network Systems, LLC.  Hughes and HughesNet are registered trademarks of Hughes Network Systems, LLC.

SOURCE Hughes Network Systems, LLC