Hughes Showcases Next Generation Broadband Satellite Technology at SatCom Africa 2013

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite networks and services, announced today that it will showcase its latest technology innovations during the SatCom Africa 2013 conference and exhibition, 27 — 30 May 2013, at the Sandton Convention Center, exhibit stand #A24, and additionally hold its annual regional technology seminar on 27 May.

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This year's seminar will feature the latest advances in Ka-band, high-throughput satellite technology, and the recently announced HN9600 and HN9800 Ka-band satellite routers which incorporate the same JUPITER technology that is the cornerstone of HughesNet^® Gen4 high-speed satellite Internet service in the U.S. The world's largest Ka-band service, HughesNet serves approximately 700,000 subscribers and offers speeds from 10 Mbps up to 15 Mbps.

"Ka-band represents the next frontier in broadband, enabling operators to offer a wide range of multi-Mbps service plans for consumer and enterprise applications," said Vinay Patel, regional director for sub-Saharan Africa, at Hughes. "Our proven Ka-band technology in the form of the HN9600 and HN9800 is the ideal answer to the ongoing price vs. performance challenge faced by operators, delivering a rapid return on their investment and a superior broadband experience to customers."

Featuring a compact, integrated external radio unit with a single IFL cable for easy and rapid installation, both the HN9600 and HN9800 support the most bandwidth-demanding services offered on the latest generation of Ka-band satellites. The new routers are fully compliant with the industry-leading IPoS/DVB-S2 standard for optimized delivery of broadband services over satellite channels. One of the first international service providers to offer the new routers is Yahsat on its Yahclick service in the Middle East, Africa, and SW Asia.

Ideal for enterprises of all sizes, the HN9800 incorporates innovative LDPC coding for superior router performance and bandwidth efficiency. It also includes many WAN optimization features such as TCP and HTTP acceleration, DNS caching, and strong data compression that significantly improves the end-user's web browsing experience. Incorporating powerful on-demand streaming capabilities for high-quality Voice-over-IP (VoIP) traffic, the versatile HN9600 is the market's most cost-effective, high-speed modem for consumer and small office installations.

The company's roadmap of future development will also be presented, including its recently announced plan to launch JUPITER 2/EchoStar XIX in mid-2016, with over 150 Gbps of capacity to further power growth of HughesNet broadband Internet service in North America.

"The sub-Saharan market is undergoing dynamic transformation, with telecom service providers needing to meet the wide range of connectivity requirements for education, health care, oil and gas, public safety, e-governance and rural connectivity. VSAT technology is ideal to satisfy these needs and Hughes stands ready with the world's most advanced and field-proven solutions," concluded Patel.

Mr. Patel will be presenting in the VSAT Theatre on 28 May at 10:30 a.m. on "Achieving True Broadband Coverage through VSAT" and in the Last Mile Theatre, 28 May at 3:00 p.m. on "How to Integrate Fibre and Satellite Services to Deliver Connectivity to Africa."

See the Hughes technology innovations at Stand A24 during the SatCom Africa 2013 Exhibition, May 28 and 29, at the Sandton Convention Centre. Media interested in arranging an interview with a Hughes executive, please contact Viv Segal of Sefin Marketing Communications in South Africa at +27 (0) 82-442-6995 or viv@sefin.co.za.

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.

©2013 Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar Company. Hughes and HughesNet are registered trademarks and JUPITER is a trademark of Hughes Network Systems, LLC.

SOURCE Hughes Network Systems, LLC