Hughes Wins Service Provider of the Year at VSAT 2013 Conference

Company is first to receive award for innovation in service delivery over satellite networks

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Sep 24, 2013, 10:46 ET

GERMANTOWN, Md., Sept. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite solutions and services, has been named Service Provider of the Year for 2013 at the VSAT 2013 Conference industry awards competition.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110112/NE29456LOGO )

Hughes is the first winner of this newly minted award, which recognizes achievement, innovation, vision and technical contributions to the VSAT industry. Informa Telecoms & Media, in partnership with COMSYS, presented Hughes with the award on Sept. 19, 2013 at the VSAT 2013 Conference in Amsterdam, the 15^th annual gathering of the industry's major decision-makers.

The judging panel—executives, analysts and representatives of industry organizations—had the following comments on the Hughes entry: "VSAT service provision has never been as competitive as it is today, and the candidates in this category reflect that fact. One candidate, however, stands out. While each of these companies has achieved remarkable results in a dynamic marketplace, Hughes Network Systems has shown the world that VSAT is just as relevant for consumers as it is for enterprises. The satellite industry has been working toward this goal for decades, and the importance of Hughes' achievement cannot be underestimated."

With more than 750,000 subscribers in North America, and powered by the EchoStar XVII Ka-band satellite with JUPITER^™ high-throughput technology, HughesNet^® is the world's largest satellite Internet service. Hughes leadership worldwide is across all market sectors—consumer, enterprise, small business, government and defense—underpinned by its sustained record of technology innovations, including many contributions to global standards bodies.

"We're proud to win this industry-first award from among many worthy candidates," said Pradman Kaul, president of Hughes. "The Hughes' culture is all about innovation, and since pioneering VSATs almost 30 years ago we have led the way in both satellite networking technology and services. Successfully proving the business model of high-speed satellite Internet service for consumers has significantly expanded the addressable market for VSATs beyond enterprise and government markets—call it the mainstreaming of satellite—connecting people no matter where they live, work or play."

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 3.3 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