Hughesnet Broadband High Speed Internet News
HughesNet Bridges Digital Divide in Northern California

America’s #1 satellite broadband service available across region
helping small businesses and Cal state students succeed.

July 12, 2006 — Germantown, Md. — Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES),
Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite networks
and services, today announced it is successfully bridging the digital divide in northern
California by delivering its HughesNet™ broadband satellite service to students, consumers
and small business owners across the region, including towns like Redding and Chico.

"There are a considerable number of people in communities across California who
still are unable to receive high-speed Internet access through cable, DSL, or any other
terrestrial means," said Max Engel, Satellite and Broadband analyst at Frost & Sullivan.
"For those consumers, satellite broadband offers a fantastic alternative to their
dial-up service."

Unlike terrestrial solutions, HughesNet satellite broadband does not rely on cable or
phone wires, making affordable broadband available to consumers and small businesses
everywhere, regardless of geography, at speeds comparable to digital subscriber line (DSL).
The compact antenna dish needs only to have a clear view of the southern sky.

"Whether a B&B owner in tourist-heavy Redding wants to provide its clientele
with the high-speed Internet they’re accustomed to, or a California State University-Chico
student living off-campus needs to complete assignments online, or visitors near the
Shasta Dam, Lake Oroville, or the Mendocino National Forest want to stay connected,
HughesNet Internet service is the answer across all of Northern California," said
Mike Cook, senior vice president of Hughes. "With HughesNet, customers can rest
assured that they are receiving quality broadband service from the industry leader.
We have more than 30 years of experience in the satellite networking business and pride
ourselves in delivering high-speed Internet access to consumers and small businesses no
matter where they live or work."

HughesNet currently serves more than 300,000 customers in nearly 26,000 zip codes
throughout the US, all of whom enjoy the benefits of broadband access, plus a
state-of-the-art e-mail system, personalized start page and easily accessible
customer support services.

For more information about HughesNet, please visit
www.HughesNet.com or
call: 1-866-556-9660.

About Hughes Network Systems

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. To date, Hughes has
shipped more than one 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 organization.

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. (OTCBB:HGCM). For additional information, please visit
www.hughes.com.

SOURCE: Hughes Network Systems