Hughes and GVF Announce Global Collaboration on Delivery of VSAT Installation Training and Certification

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hughes and GVF Announce Global Collaboration on Delivery of VSAT Installation Training and Certification

Interactive Platform Enables Rapid, Cost-Effective Training for Installers of Hughes Broadband Satellite Systems

Moscow, Russia, May 13, 2009 — The Global VSAT Forum (GVF), Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), and SatProf have announced at Sviaz 2009 in Moscow, Russia that they will jointly launch a web-based platform at http://gvf.coursehost.com that enables faster, more cost-effective delivery of installation training on Hughes broadband satellite systems throughout the world.

Hughes of Germantown, Maryland, and GVF of London, U.K., entered into an agreement to produce "on-line" VSAT installation training courses specifically prepared for Hughes equipment. The new on-line courses, which are a complement to GVF's existing online Satellite Training Academy, were prepared and are being hosted by SatProf, Inc., of Huntington Beach, California.

“This collaboration takes our commitment to customer quality to the next level,” said Payam Herischi, senior director, International Division at Hughes. “Technicians that successfully complete this training will receive a joint GVF-Hughes Certificate, validating their ability to deliver high-performance satellite communications solutions to customers.”

“This course is an important addition to GVF's international certification program,” said David Hartshorn, Secretary General of the GVF. “We are honored to be working with the world's largest provider of broadband satellite solutions and with our training partner, SatProf, who will develop the simulated hands-on Hughes hardware experience for installers.”

The VSAT industry relies on a certified installation force for customer satisfaction and prevention of RF interference. All certified VSAT installers are automatically listed in the GVF Certified Installer Database. Please contact the GVF for information about training programs, including pricing, developing country discounts and distributorship license agreements.

GVF is the non-profit association of the satellite communications industry. The organization has been actively developing and providing education and training programs for satellite communications professionals. The addition of Hughes training to GVF's program comes at a time when satellite communications services are being delivered at unprecedented levels, both in developed and developing nations. The Hughes and GVF training aims to ensure that the higher volume of installations is conducted with the highest possible level of technical competency.

The Hughes training module is a complement to the GVF VSAT Installation & Maintenance Training Course, which is the global industry standard for training installers of bi-directional satellite earth stations. It was created by a consensus of volunteers serving in the GVF Education & Training Working Group (E&TWG), whose mission is to identify, formulate and share knowledge that is beneficial to the VSAT industry, its shareholders and stakeholders.

About Hughes (www.hughes.com)

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).

About GVF (www.gvf.org)

GVF is the international association of the satellite communications industry. Supported by 200 companies based in more than 100 nations in every major region of the world, GVF promotes higher standards of service, greater levels of market access, improved regulatory conditions, and heightened awareness by the private and public sectors of the advantages afforded by state-of-the-art satellite-based fixed and mobile solutions.

About SatProf, Inc. ( www.satprof.com )
SatProf, Inc. was founded by Ralph Brooker and Peter Zilliox, both veterans of the satellite ground equipment and system engineering industry. SatProf offers standard and custom technical e-learning material and engineering support for satellite installers, technicians, engineers, and managers.