New HughesNet Leasing Option Makes High-Speed Internet Access More Affordable

Nationwide Leasing Program Makes it Easy to Get Satellite Broadband Anywhere

Germantown, Md. — Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the world’s leading provider of broadband satellite networks and services, today announced that it has made high-speed Internet access more affordable with the introduction of a new equipment leasing option that reduces upfront start-up fees by more than seventy-five percent. The program helps consumers currently on slow dial-up enjoy the convenience and speed of a HughesNet® service plan without the expense of having to purchase equipment. To promote the option, for a limited time all new subscribers that lease the equipment for any of HughesNet’s six service plans will receive free standard installation.

“HughesNet’s new leasing program dramatically reduces the start-up costs a new subscriber incurs, making it easy to take advantage of new, higher speed plans with a much lower upfront cost,” said Peter Gulla , vice president of marketing for North America at Hughes. “HughesNet sets the standard for high-speed Internet by satellite with entry-level plans starting at up to 1 Mbps, ranging up to 5 Mbps. Now everyone beyond the reach of cable or DSL can get high speed satellite Internet access at an affordable price.”

Subscribers who select the leasing option will pay an upfront fee of $99 at the time of activation. Qualified subscribers will receive free installation and, thereafter, pay a monthly equipment rental fee of $9.99 for each month of service. As an alternative to the new leasing option, new subscribers may choose to purchase the equipment for $299.98, after the $100 mail-in rebate, now through Sept. 30, 2008.

With more than 400,000 subscribers, HughesNet is the leading broadband satellite Internet service in the United States . HughesNet offers a suite of service plans. For more information about HughesNet services and the new equipment leasing option, please visit www.hughesnet.com or call 1-866-859-2268.

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. Its broadband satellite products are based on global standards approved by the TIA, ETSI, and ITU standards organizations, including IPoS, RSM-A, and GMR-1. To date, Hughes has shipped more than 1.5 million systems to customers in over 100 countries.

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 www.hughes.com .

©2008 Hughes Network Systems, LLC. All Rights Reserved. HUGHES, HughesNet, and SPACEWAY are trademarks of Hughes Network Systems, LLC.