Asia PR News

GERMANTOWN, Md., June 26 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ –

Major Mobile Satellite Operator Chooses Hughes to Develop
Advanced Products for Customers in Middle East, Africa,
Asia and Europe

Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the world’s leading provider of
broadband satellite solutions and services, today announced it has signed
multiple contracts with Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Private Joint
Stock Company, a leading mobile satellite voice and data service provider with
coverage reaching nearly one-third of the world’s population. The contracts,
worth nearly $60 million, call for the development and supply of a high-speed
mobile data system, consisting of a gateway and 2000 mobile/transportable
terminals; a next generation Secondary Gateway, and Advanced Operations Center
to be installed at a new site in UAE; and the provision of 1500 additional
mobile system voice circuits. The agreements build on a multi-year relationship
between Hughes and Thuraya, which began in 2001.

Serving more than 400,000 customers with high-quality mobile voice and data
services, Thuraya is one of the world’s leading satellite operators, with
coverage reaching more than two billion people across Europe, North and Central
Africa, the Middle East, Central and South Asia. The new high-speed mobile data
system with accompanying satellite terminals will enable Thuraya to offer its
customers broadband data services of over 400 Kbps over an IP-based network.

"We have long trusted Hughes to supply reliable, high-quality networks,
terminals and portable handsets for our successful mobile satellite service
throughout our coverage area," said Dr. Yousuf Al-Sayed, Chief Executive,
Thuraya. "This new system and products will significantly enhance our service
propositions, bringing true broadband data and related value-added applications
to our rapidly growing customer base. We’re excited about these opportunities
to expand our business and look forward to continuing our successful
relationship with Hughes."

"We are proud to have been chosen by Thuraya to build these advanced new
products and to continue our relationship from inception as their primary
technology supplier," said Bahram Pourmand, executive vice president,
International, Hughes. "Thuraya clearly stands out as the world’s most
successful mobile satellite service business."

In addition to the new high-speed data system, Hughes will develop and
supply a next generation Secondary Gateway using state-of-the-art technology.
This will be configured as a redundant gateway and also perform load sharing
functions for the existing Primary Gateway located in the UAE.

Hughes will also supply Thuraya with 1500 additional mobile system voice
circuits. These additional voice circuits will enable Thuraya to approximately
double the 400,000 plus subscribers on its existing system, utilizing portable,
cellphone-sized handsets that combine satellite, GSM cellular, and GPS
functionality, developed and manufactured by Hughes.

About Thuraya
Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company offers cost-effective,
satellite-based mobile telephone services to nearly one third of the globe,
utilizing its regional mobile telecommunications via satellite (GMPCS) system.
Through partnerships with leading national telecommunications and mobile
communications companies, Thuraya provides blanket coverage to more than 100
countries in Europe, the Middle East, North and Central Africa, the CIS
countries, as well as Central and South Asia, a landmass inhabited by an
estimated 2.3 billion people.

Thuraya was established on April 1997 in the United Arab Emirates, as a
private joint stock company. The shareholders of Thuraya are twenty-one
prominent national telecommunications operators and investment houses. For more
information about the Thuraya service, please visit http://www.thuraya.com.

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(TM) encompasses all broadband
solutions and managed services from Hughes, bridging the best of satellite and
terrestrial technologies. To date, Hughes has shipped more than one million
systems to customers in over 100 countries. Its broadband satellite products
are based on the IPoS (IP over Satellite) global standard, approved by the TIA,
ETSI, and ITU standards organizations.

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. (OTC Bulletin Board: HGCM). For
additional information, please visit http://www.hughes.com

HUGHES, HUGHESNET, and IPOS are trademarks of Hughes Network Systems, LLC.

SOURCE: Hughes Network Systems, LLC

CONTACT: Judy Blake of Hughes Network Systems,
+1-301-601-7330,
jblake@hns.com; or

Colleen Stroh of Brodeur,
+1-202-775-2648,
cstroh@brodeur.com,

for Hughes Network Systems, LLC

Web site: http://www.hughes.com

(HGCM)