Hughes Announces Broadband VSAT Platform for Maritime Applications

Hughes Announces Broadband VSAT Platform for Maritime Applications

February 19, 2007

Combination of HX IP satellite broadband modem and Sea
Tel(R) stabilized antennas provides ideal VSAT solution for
maritime and offshore platform industries


    GERMANTOWN, Md., Feb. 19 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/-- Hughes
Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) (Nasdaq: HUGH) and Cobham PLC
company, Sea Tel, Inc., today announced the successful
completion of interoperability testing between the Hughes
HX family of IP satellite broadband modems
(http://www.hughes.com/HUGHES/Rooms/DisplayPages/LayoutInitial?Container=com.webridge.entity.Entity%5BOID%5BC8707C327C7A324B8DE159405ABF8E2D%5D%5D)
and Sea Tel family of marine stabilized satellite antennas.
As a result, satellite broadband service providers around
the world can now take advantage of a packaged,
state-of-the-art maritime VSAT platform. 

    The upstream oil and gas industry increasingly relies
on satellite communications for their bandwidth needs, as
well as for reliable backup services on their offshore
platforms. In addition, the maritime industry has seen
increased use of IP bandwidth and, hence, a move towards
subscription-based VSAT broadband services. Hughes and Sea
Tel marry sophisticated bandwidth allocation and QOS
techniques in the HX product platform with the Sea Tel
Maritime Stabilized Satellite Antenna system.

    "The Sea Tel stabilized antenna family
interoperated very effectively with our HX satellite
broadband platform, establishing the HX as an ideal
solution for the maritime and upstream oil and gas
industries," said David Jupin, vice president of
International Applications Engineering at Hughes. "Sea
Tel is a leading provider of stabilized antennas, and we are
pleased to bring this comprehensive solution to market with
them." 

    "Hughes is a significant provider of broadband
satellite networks and services around the world. We look
forward to working with them and are prepared to enable
Hughes to deliver this solution," said Rick Stallbaum,
senior vice president, global sales and marketing at Sea
Tel.

    About Sea Tel

    Sea Tel, part of the Cobham Antennas Division,
specializes in marine stabilized antenna systems for
two-way satellite communications, satellite
television-at-sea (DBS/DTH, TV-Sea(TM)), and
Internet-at-Sea(R) services.

    Sea Tel provides a robust maritime antenna solution for
yachts, commercial ships, drill rigs, work boats, cruise
ships, and military vessels.

    With more than 30,000 successful installations,
worldwide, high reliability combined with affordability are
hallmarks of Sea Tel products. Sea Tel holds sole access to
key U.S. patents and other proprietary technology that
ensure customers receive a stable satellite signal that
they can count on even in rough seas and gale force winds.

    Headquartered in Concord, California, Sea Tel, Inc. is
a wholly owned subsidiary of London Stock Exchange listed
Cobham plc. For additional information, please visit
http://www.seatel.com .
  
    About Hughes Network Systems

    Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is the global
leader in providing broadband satellite networks and
services for enterprises, governments, small businesses,
and consumers. HughesNet(TM) encompasses all broadband
solutions and managed services from Hughes, bridging the
best of satellite and terrestrial technologies. To date,
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. (Nasdaq: HUGH). For additional
information, please visit http://www.hughes.com . 

    Hughes, HughesNet, and IPoS are trademarks of Hughes
Network Systems, LLC. Other trademarks are the property of
their respective owners. 


    For more information, please contact:

     Judy Blake
     Hughes Network Systems
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Rick Stallbaum
     Sea Tel, Inc.
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]


SOURCE  Hughes Network Systems, LLC