RSCC and Hughes Sign Technology Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding

Companies to Explore Innovative Multi-Media Satellite Networks and Services in Russia

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May 14, 2012, 11:08 ET

MOSCOW and GERMANTOWN, Md., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, at the Sviaz-ExpoComm Exhibition in Moscow, the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC), Russia's largest satellite communications operator, and Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes), the world's leading provider of broadband satellite solutions and services, signed a technology cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) under which the companies will explore the development of multi-media video and broadband Internet services via RSCC satellites in Russia.

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RSCC expects to apply the experience gained by Hughes, the U.S. market leader in high-speed satellite Internet services, to the development and management of satellite communications networks in Russia. RSCC is furthermore willing to consider providing Hughes with the necessary ground and space infrastructure at RSCC's Space Communication Centres to conduct testing and develop new solutions.

Hughes, in turn, will thoroughly examine the possibility of deploying its research and production capabilities on Russian territory in the immediate vicinity of one of RSCC's Space Communication Centres. RSCC and Hughes expect to develop in the following year a full-scale partnership cooperation program that would offer cost-effective solutions for public and private entities interested in multiple-system services.

"We are happy to expand cooperation with Hughes," said Yuri Prokhorov, the RSCC Director General. "RSCC seeks to implement state-of-the-art technological solutions and innovative practices in the global satellite communications market, and Hughes brings unique technology and market experience in addition to that of other RSCC industry partners from abroad. "

"The Russian market is growing rapidly and is strategically important to Hughes," commented Arunas Slekys, vice president and GM, Russia/CIS, Hughes. "We look forward to working with RSCC in exploring new value-added broadband data and video solutions in Russia, leveraging the complementary experience of both companies in satellite technologies and service delivery."

About Russian Satellite Communications Company
The Russian Satellite Communication Company (RSCC) is the Russian state satellite operator whose spacecraft provide global coverage. RSCC was founded in 1967 and is one of the ten largest satellite operators in the world in terms of satellites and orbital slots. The company owns the largest satellite constellation in Russia, located in the geostationary orbital arc from 14 West to 140 East and cover the whole territory of Russia, CIS, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific region, North and South America, and Australia. The company includes five Satellite Communications Centers (SCC) at Dubna, Bear Lakes, Skolkovo, Zheleznogorsk and Khabarovsk and the Shabolovka Technical Centre in Moscow, as well as its own high-speed optical-fiber digital network.

As the national satellite operator, RSCC fulfills the important state tasks of providing mobile presidential and governmental communications, and federal television and radio signal transmission over the territory of Russia and most countries of the world. The company pays serious attention to implementing national projects. RSCC closely interacts with the Russian state authorities in the field of informational and telecommunications and broadcast systems development. RSCC provides a full range of communications and broadcasting services using its own terrestrial engineering facilities and satellite constellation including up-to-date spacecraft of Express-AM, Express-A, Bonum-1, Ekran-M series and a part of the French W4 satellite capacity. The company's satellites offer wide opportunities to establish television and radio broadcasting inclusive DTH, IPTV, MPEG-4 services, broadband Internet access, data transmission, videoconferencing, VSAT network deployment, departmental, and enterprise communications networks worldwide. The company has its own satellite TT&C system. At present, RSCC controls and monitors Eutelsat, Intelsat, etc. satellites using its engineering facilities. The more detailed information is available on Web site: www.rscc.ru

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 2.8 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

Hughes and HughesNet are registered trademarks of Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar company.

SOURCE Hughes Network Systems, LLC