Hughes Ships Ka-Band Broadband Satellite Solution to YAHSAT

GERMANTOWN, Md., Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellites networks and services, announced today that it has made its first shipment of advanced Ka-band gateway equipment and satellite terminals to Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PrJSC (Yahsat), based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The shipment of four system gateways, Network Control Center (NCC), and initial order of Ka-band terminals will be used by Yahsat to provide its "YahClick" next-generation, high-speed satellite Internet service. Expected to launch in 2012, the new service has been specifically developed to bring high-performance broadband access to unserved and underserved regions of the Middle East, Africa, and Southwest Asia, and is on target to reach 26 countries.

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Commenting on the announcement, Jassem Al Zaabi, Yahsat CEO, said, "This initial shipment of equipment is significant as it follows the successful conclusion of the Critical Design Review. With this on-schedule shipment, Yahsat is on track to have the YahClick ground system in place and ready for our Y1B satellite launch. It is a major milestone to realize our vision of bringing cost-effective, high-speed Internet service to millions of underserved and unserved people and organizations in countries across the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South West Asia."

In addition to providing gateways and terminals, Hughes is also under contract to deliver a complete OSS/BSS solution (Operational Support System and Business Support System), as well as to operate and maintain the network for a three-year period.

Bahram Pourmand, executive vice president, International Division at Hughes, said, "Hughes takes great pride in meeting its customer commitments—in this case, successfully completing the Critical Design Review and Factory Acceptance Tests, as well as demonstrating a number of key features, functionalities, and performance specifications of our proven Ka-band technology, thereby setting the stage to power Yahsat's service starting next year."

Installation of the four gateways and Network Control Center (NCC) in Europe and the UAE is expected to be completed in November 2011, enabling the commissioning and testing of the YahClick service once the satellite is launched.

About Al Yah Satellite Communications Company - Yahsat (www.yahsat.ae)

Yahsat, the United Arab Emirates-based satellite communications company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala), provides multi-purpose satellite communications services to commercial and governmental clients in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South-West Asia. With a wide portfolio of voice, data, video and internet connectivity solutions, Yahsat satellites are designed based on market requirements and future applications. Yahsat is partnering with a consortium composed of EADS Astrium, Thales and Alenia Space to build a multi-purpose satellite communications system. The first satellite Y1A was launched successfully in April 2011, and Y1B will follow in the second half of 2011.

About Hughes Network Systems

Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes) is the world's leading provider of satellite broadband for home and office, delivering innovative network technologies, managed services, and solutions for enterprises and governments globally. HughesNet® is the #1 high-speed satellite Internet service in the marketplace, with offerings to suit every budget. To date, Hughes has shipped more than 2.5 million systems to customers in over 100 countries, representing over 50 percent market share. Its products employ global standards approved by the TIA, ETSI and ITU organizations, including IPoS/DVB-S2, RSM-A, and GMR-1.

Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes operates sales and support offices worldwide, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS), a premier global provider of satellite operations and digital TV solutions. For additional information about Hughes, please visit www.hughes.com.

©2011 Hughes Network Systems, LLC. Hughes and HughesNet are registered trademarks of Hughes Network Systems, LLC.

SOURCE Hughes Network Systems, LLC