DIRECWAY Delivers the Power of Broadband to 50,000 Small Businesses Small Businesses Rely on Satellite Broadband From Hughes Network Systems to Bridge the Business Digital Divide GERMANTOWN, Md., June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HNS) brings the power and reach of satellite broadband to 50,000 small businesses that reside in areas where digital subscriber line (DSL) or cable broadband are not available. Utilizing HNS' DIRECWAY(R) service, these businesses are able to enjoy always-on, two-way reliable broadband Internet access by satellite -- without tying up their phone lines. "There has been a lot of talk about the digital divide among consumers without access to broadband Internet but little mention has been made of a similar divide that exists among small and medium businesses across the country. In the case of these businesses, bridging this 'divide' can be the key to remaining successful in an increasingly competitive economy," said Peter Gulla, HNS vice president of consumer sales and marketing. "For businesses that have been bypassed by terrestrial providers, DIRECWAY offers a solution that delivers the broadband they need to run their operations successfully. According to a 2004 Frost and Sullivan report, "Broadband and the Role of Satellite Services," of the over seven million business establishments in the United States, more than 40 percent operate in areas where terrestrial broadband is unavailable. This lack of access to wired broadband resources poses a critical impediment to business operations. The Frost and Sullivan report goes on to say that due to economics, small businesses have been slower to adopt broadband services. For them, there exists a bandwidth gap that has only recently begun to be addressed by DSL in some regions. However, DSL is not uniformly available because its performance degrades as the distance increases between the customer and the telco's central office, leaving many businesses, even those thought to be covered by DSL, without broadband access. "Our business can't get cable or DSL. For years, we relied on a dial-up connection and were beyond frustrated," said Laurel Holsingerand of GNLD, a food supplement distributor. "The DIRECWAY always-on satellite connection increases my business productivity by giving me instant access to the information that I need -- without the slow response of low-speed dial-up connections," said Holsingerand. DIRECWAY provides always on, two-way satellite access to the Internet, and offers download speeds of up to 1 Mbps, about 20 times faster than dial-up, together with static IP addressing and email options. Unlike terrestrial broadband options, satellite is not hindered by geography. It is available everywhere in the continental United States with a clear view of the southern sky. 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(R) brand. DIRECWAY(R) 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, HNS maintains sales and support offices worldwide. The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (HYSE: DTV) and SkyTerra Communications, Inc. (OTC:SKYT) (BULLETIN BOARD: SKYT) each own 50% of HNS. SkyTerra is its managing member. For additional information, please visit http://www.hns.com/. HUGHES and Hughes Network Systems are trademarks of Hughes Network Systems, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. DATASOURCE: Hughes Network Systems, LLC CONTACT: Judy Blake of Hughes Network Systems, +1-301-601-7330, ; or Donna L. Taylor of Brodeur, +1-202-775-2650, , for Hughes Network Systems Web site: http://www.hns.com/

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