Middle East country builds out a highly secure network across over 100 countries

Germantown, Md., Feb. 24, 2014 — Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite networks and services, today announced that it has won a $69 million, 3 year contract to provide the foreign ministry of a Middle East country with a highly secure private satellite network and services across more than 100 countries on six continents.

The new contract calls for Hughes to provide turnkey managed network services across the foreign ministries’ global facilities employing its advanced HX satellite broadband system, including end-to-end network management. The Hughes solution is highly secure, reliable and scalable, connecting embassies and consulates in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia — delivering a wide range of ministry applications such as visa/digital document processing, distance learning and enterprise resource planning (ERP), as well as broadband Internet/Intranet access and voice services (VoIP).

“We are extremely privileged to be entrusted by the ministry for this valuable managed network service,” said Kamran Givpoor, Hughes vice president of Global Services. “Beyond delivering highly secure, reliable and scalable connectivity — requirements which are very similar to those of international companies or global financial institutions — this major win is a testament to the excellent partnership that’s developed between our organizations. We look forward to provide them the highest quality, seamless networking service across all of their facilities worldwide.”

The Hughes HX solution employs bi-directional encryption for the highest levels of data security. As a protected private satellite network, it is not subject to the vulnerabilities of terrestrial infrastructure — ensuring the highest level of robustness and availability at all locations. Reliable managed network services help the embassies and consulates deliver essential applications such as emergency response, healthcare and education to their staff and citizens in foreign countries, besides enabling rapid transmission of critical information.

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 3.3 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.