Operation AC Partners with Hughes to Expand High-Speed Satellite Internet Access for Deployed Troops

GERMANTOWN, Md., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite networks and services, today announced that it has signed Operation AC as a Value Added Reseller (VAR) of broadband satellite services focused on Afghanistan and Iraq.  Operation AC is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing goods and services to U.S. and Coalition military members and is launching a new program to subsidize broadband satellite service for soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. Donations made to Operation AC SATCOM can be designated to one or more specific service members for provision of the high-speed satellite Internet service from Hughes, enabling them to stay connected to their families and friends while overseas.

"We ask everyone who cares about our troops to join us with donations for this Internet subsidy program," said Frankie Mayo, founder and president of Operation AC.  "As more U.S. troops are deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, it is important for us to partner with a U.S. company able to bring high quality satellite broadband service, including email, video chat and VoIP capabilities to our troops in these areas, helping them stay in touch with their loved ones."

Hughes launched its expanded high-speed satellite Internet access for U.S. troops in the Middle East and Central Asia last December, delivered from the company's new operations hub in Dubai.

"Hughes is proud to be working with Operation AC to expand provision of our satellite Internet service so our troops can stay connected with their families back home," said Payam Herischi, senior director of Hughes Global Services.

"We have received many letters thanking Hughes for its satellite broadband equipment and service," continued Mayo. "One example comes from a soldier deployed in Iraq, who writes, 'Being able to video chat with my wife and children has virtually eliminated the sense of distance from them. I thank you for showing so much concern for me, my family, and all my brothers and sisters in arms deployed around the world.'"

Operation AC was born in 2003, when Frankie Mayo first organized donations to send window air conditioners to the Army's 300^th Military Police (MP) Company in Iraq. Both her son and daughter-in-law were serving there at the time, and with temperatures approaching 140F, they and their fellow MPs needed relief at night to be rested for the mission at hand. Since then, Operation AC has sent over 10,000 window air conditioner units and many other needed items and services to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and is connecting citizens from all over the world over the Internet to adopt U.S. and coalition service members via its Virtual Carebox system.

Donations of any size are welcome to help bring our troops useful items and services, such as high-speed satellite Internet access. To donate to Operation AC's SATCOM project, please visit, www.operationac.com.

For more information on Hughes service supporting MWR efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait, visit www.hughesglobalservices.com/mwr.html or email [email protected].

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

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