Hughes Appoints New Sales Director for European Business

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hughes Appoints New Sales Director for European Business

John Cruickshank to drive company's sales growth in European markets

Milton Keynes, UK, 14 April 2009 — Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite networks and services, announced today that it has appointed John Cruickshank as sales director of Hughes Europe, the company's European operating and sales unit.

Cruickshank brings with him extensive senior sales management experience in network integration services. Previously, he spent nine years at global data communications and managed network services provider, Equant, rising to sales director. He then moved to network integration specialist, ETT, as sales director, subsequently taking on the role of vertical sector lead, retail and commercial at Cable & Wireless.

“My appointment at Hughes Europe comes at an exciting time in the company's development,” said Cruickshank. “As the world's leader in the provision of broadband satellite services, Hughes is well positioned to expand into new areas showing exciting growth potential, such as mesh satellite services and business access continuity service planning.”

Looking ahead, Hughes Europe's sales plans include extending its core services, such as the provision of hybrid satellite and terrestrial networks, and rural Internet connectivity into emerging markets, in particular Eastern Europe. Building on its strength in such diverse markets as retail, petrochemicals and the lottery sector, the company's objective is to seize other market opportunities demanding large, internationally-based network infrastructures .

Christopher Britton, managing director of Hughes Europe, stated, “John's broadly-based sales expertise in high-quality data communications and network services organisations will be invaluable in spearheading this important phase of development as Hughes looks to expand its broadband business across Europe.”

About Hughes Network Systems Europe (Hughes Europe)

Hughes Europe is the operating and sales organisation for the European market for Hughes Network Systems, LLC with facilities in Germany, the UK, and Italy. Utilizing its satellite hub earth station and network operations centre in Griesheim, Germany, Hughes Europe provides HughesNet^® broadband satellite and terrestrial solutions to large enterprises, government organizations and small businesses throughout the continent, both directly and through a growing family of value-added service providers. These networks support rapid, reliable transmission of data, voice, video, and multimedia content. For more information, please visit www.hugheseurope.com.

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 1.9 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 .