FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 23, 2005

Hughes Network Systems Passes 50,000 Site Milestone; HNS Clear Leader in Satellite Services for Gas Station/Convenience Store Market Segment

Germantown, Md., August 23, 2005—Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HNS) announced that it now provides satellite services to more than 50,000 retail gas stations/convenience stores in the United States, making it the clear leader in the delivery of satellite services to the oil and gas industry. In addition to the U.S. market, HNS also serves approximately 5,000 gas stations/convenience stores in Europe and Asia.

According to the National Association of Convenience Stores, the United States is home to 138,205 convenience stores. This milestone validates HNS as the provider of choice for 36 percent of the convenience stores throughout the country.

As evidence of its long-standing history of providing quality service to the oil and gas industry, HNS recently negotiated a five-year renewal of service with one of the world's leading energy companies. The renewal covers thousands of locations that need connectivity primarily for debit/credit card authorizations. Additionally, HNS and the energy leader negotiated a global master agreement contract for the ordering of satellite services and equipment.

Since 1992, the nation's oil and gas providers have relied on HNS satellite network services to:

  • process debit/credit authorizations;
  • perform online tank monitoring;
  • support back-office applications; and
  • execute back-office polling.

“This milestone underscores our leadership and ability to continually exceed the expectations of multinational oil and gas companies,” said Mike Cook, senior vice president at HNS. “Our large footprint in the oil and gas industry, coupled with over 30 years of global operations, makes us an ideal business partner for all international companies.”

About Hughes Network Systems
Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HNS) is the world's leading provider of broadband satellite network solutions for businesses and consumers, with more than 800,000 systems ordered or shipped to customers in 85 countries. HNS pioneered the development of high-speed satellite Internet access services and IP-based networks, which it markets globally under the DIRECWAY® brand. DIRECWAY terminals 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. SkyTerra Communications, Inc. (OTCBB:SKYT) and The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (NYSE:DTV) each own 50% of HNS. SkyTerra is its managing member. For additional information, please visit www.hns.com.

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HUGHES and Hughes Network Systems are trademarks of Hughes Network Systems, LLC. DIRECWAY is a trademark of The DIRECTV Group, Inc.