Hughes Announces Major Enhancements to its HughesNet Service Delivering More Capacity and Improved Performance for all Satellite Internet Customers

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Oct 17, 2011, 08:00 ET

GERMANTOWN, Md., Oct. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes), the global leader in broadband satellite solutions and services, today announced significant enhancements to its HughesNet® satellite Internet service to bring faster speeds and a richer Internet experience to customers.

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This week Hughes will complete the rollout of network upgrades for HughesNet subscribers which began this past summer. These network upgrades boost browsing and download performance resulting in an improved online customer experience. Another important enhancement is an increase in daily download allowance for all service plans, which provides an addition download capacity per month of well over 1 GB.

Hughes also offers subscribers easy-to-use tools and services to help them take advantage of these improvements and maximize their online experience. To ensure uninterrupted performance, the HughesNet Status Meter application continuously monitors the customers' usage so they will always be aware of how much of their daily download capacity is available. Another tool is the HughesNet Download Manager which enables users to schedule large file downloads during off peak hours without affecting browsing speeds or their daily download allowance.

"Customers' best choice in satellite Internet is getting even better," said Mike Cook, senior vice president of the North American Division at Hughes. "Hughes will be continuously improving the HughesNet service over the coming months with optimization technologies, and further enhancements to service plans and customer support. Our vision is to take satellite Internet to the next level with the most advanced high-bandwidth satellites and services that will enable subscribers to experience the Internet at its fullest."

To help customers get the most from their HughesNet service, Hughes also has launched new online channels where customers can access the latest information about service improvements, new promotional offers, and post comments and questions. The newly launched HughesNet Community is an active social community where customers can gain direct access to Hughes company experts, as well as HughesNet "power users." On the Hughes Facebook page, customers can ask questions, get answers, share their favorite tips, and keep track of the latest enhancements to HughesNet's ever-improving service.

Today's announcement is the first in a series of performance, feature, and technology enhancements that Hughes will be rolling out in coming months, culminating with the 2012 launch of Jupiter™, its next-generation, high throughput Ka-band satellite designed to meet the bandwidth needs of the future. HughesNet subscribers will be able to enjoy a faster and more media-rich Internet experience for video, music, image download, and voice capabilities, among other performance benefits.

Stay tuned for future HughesNet service enhancements by following us on:

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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.

SOURCE Hughes Network Systems, LLC