[November 07, 2007]

Hughes and Telma Madagascar Implement GSM and CDMA Backhaul over Broadband Satellite

GERMANTOWN, Md., Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes), the world's leading provider of broadband satellite solutions and services, today announced the successful conclusion of extensive integration testing of the Hughes broadband satellite platforms in providing cellular backhaul links for Telma Madagascar. The Hughes HN and HX platforms were integrated with several manufacturers' GSM and CDMA equipment and Telma has now placed these links into active service.

After a competitive evaluation, Telma had earlier purchased both Hughes HN and HX series network operating centers (NOCs) and 300 broadband satellite terminals, which are used to deliver rural telephony, corporate telephony, Internet access, intranet, and wireless backhaul services. The CDMA links support residential and payphone services, while the GSM links support mobile services.

"The Hughes broadband satellite systems have been tested extensively and the results are fully compliant with a full carrier-class backhauling service," said Gilles de Villenaut, COO of Telma. "We are very pleased to be using equipment from Hughes, the proven leader in broadband satellite."

"Demand for cellular service continues to grow worldwide, and our HN and HX satellite solutions are a cost-effective and rapid answer to reaching customers in more remote or difficult coverage areas," said Soheil Mehrabanzad, assistant vice president of Middle East/Africa region. "We are proud to have been selected by Telma to help expand their cellular footprint throughout Madagascar."

About Telma
Privatized in 2004, Telecom Malagasy's (Telma) aim is to transform Madagascar in a digital paradise for foreign investments. Telma, the first convergent (copper line, wireless GSM/GPRS/EDGE and CDMA, satellite VSAT, and Internet) operator in Madagascar, offers integrated solutions including fixed phone, mobile, and Internet to businesses and consumers in addition to XDSL solutions like ADSL or SDSL, which are already available. Converged billing for fixed and mobile communication will soon be a reality.

To support the development of Madagascar's service operators, businesses and citizens, Telma is the only Malagasy member of the Eassy Consortium, which implements a submarine fiber optic cable between Madagascar and the rest of the world. Telma intends to build a highway of communications between the major regions of the island through its national backbone project and to develop rural/remote areas with a large satellite VSAT network These projects will allow Telma to meet Madagascar's international and national communications requirements for the next 20 years. For additional information, please visit http://www.telma.mg/.

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(R) encompasses all broadband solutions and managed services from Hughes, bridging the best of satellite and terrestrial technologies. Hughes has shipped more than 1.2 million systems to customers in over 100 countries. Its broadband satellite products are based on the IPoS (IP over Satellite) global standard, approved by the TIA, ETSI, and ITU standards organizations.

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. . For additional information, please visit http://www.hughes.com/.

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

CONTACT: Judy Blake of Hughes Network Systems, +1-301-601-7330,jblake@hns.com; or Wunmi Bamiduro of Brodeur for Hughes Network Systems,+1-202-775-2656, wbamiduro@brodeur.com

Web site: http://www.hns.com/http://www.telma.mg/

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