Hughes Technology Selected by HISPASAT to Bridge Digital Divide in Rural Colombia

GERMANTOWN, Md., May 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes), the global leader in broadband satellite solutions and services, today announced that it has been awarded a contract for an HX broadband satellite system and terminals by HISPASAT Colombia, a subsidiary of Spanish satellite operator HISPASAT, to power delivery of high-speed satellite Internet service as part of Colombia's Ministry of Information Technology and Communication's (MinTIC) Vive Digital program. It is the latest in a series of government contracts to help bridge the digital divide in seven underserved regions of the country.

"HISPASAT chose Hughes due to the broad coverage and advanced capabilities of Hughes broadband satellite systems," said Sergio Chaves, business director for South America at HISPASAT. "There is growing demand for satellite broadband services for potentially millions of households that cannot be served by terrestrial networks anytime soon. Hughes market leadership and advanced technology combined with a history of delivering reliable service were key decision-points for our partnership."

Hughes is supplying its market-leading HX System, comprising an economical gateway and high-performance broadband terminals, for approximately 650 Vive Digital kiosks (KVDs) in a HISPASAT service region of Colombia. HISPASAT, which has formed a consortium with NEC Colombia for the program, will install and operate the system as a managed service for MinTIC.

"We're helping to change lives for the better through the advantages of the Internet," said Hugo Frega, Hughes senior director of sales, Latin America. "HISPASAT is helping Colombia make a technological leap through this important national initiative that will bring opportunity to the masses, and Hughes is proud to be the chosen technology provider."

Optimized for carrier-grade IP broadband networking, the HX System has proven itself in numerous countries as the ideal choice for digital divide programs such as Vive Digital. The HISPASAT/NEC Colombia consortium is one of several operators contracted to deliver and manage KVDs as part of the $283.71 million project. MinTIC expects that by August 2014 there will be a total of 6,648 sites operating in remote parts of Colombia.

About HISPASAT
The HISPASAT Group is comprised of companies with a presence in Spain as well as in Latin America, where its Brazilian affiliate HISPAMAR operates the Amazonas fleet of satellites. The Group is leader in the broadcast and distribution of content in Spanish and Portuguese, including the transmission of important Direct to Home (DTH) and High Definition Television digital platforms. HISPASAT is one of the most important companies in its sector in the world by revenue and the main communications bridge between Europe and America.

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 4 million systems to customers in over 100 countries, representing approximately 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.

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SOURCE Hughes Network Systems, LLC