HUGHES Wins Statewide Broadband Services Contract in Virginia

Company to Provide Satellite Broadband Technology to Support Public Sector Network Communications

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Mar 30, 2010, 10:39 ET

GERMANTOWN, Md., March 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite network solutions and services, today announced that it has been awarded a contract by the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA), allowing the company to provide satellite broadband technology to public sector entities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. This multiple award contract is for a term of one year with four additional one-year renewal options.

"Hughes is honored that our HughesNet® satellite broadband network services and solutions were selected as part of this contract to provide critical service to public sector entities throughout Virginia," said Tony Bardo, assistant vice president for government solutions at Hughes. "Virginia's commitment to incorporating satellite technology, among its suite of broadband options, enables these entities to improve service delivery in key areas such as emergency preparedness, telework, back-up networks, remote Internet access, and distance learning."

Under the terms of the contract (VA-021110-HNS), Hughes may provide satellite broadband technology to public sector entities located in any zip code in Virginia. Satellite is the only technology of the seven different types of broadband options included in this multiple award vehicle, in which an entire tier of service was awarded to one supplier. Pricing for Hughes offerings is located on the VITA Web site at the following link: http://www.vita.virginia.gov/procurement/BroadBandZipSearch.cfm.

"We are excited at the opportunity to bring the resiliency, ubiquity, security, and speed of satellite broadband to Virginia, and look forward to working with public sector entities across the Commonwealth," said Bardo.

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 encompasses all broadband solutions and managed services from Hughes, bridging the best of satellite and terrestrial technologies. Its broadband satellite products are based on global standards approved by the TIA, ETSI and ITU standards organizations, including IPoS/DVB-S2, RSM-A and GMR-1. To date, Hughes has shipped more than 2.2 million systems to customers in over 100 countries.

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. (Nasdaq: HUGH). For additional information, please visit www.hughes.com.

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

SOURCE Hughes Network Systems, LLC