Hughes to connect 1300 SBI branches

* Deploys state-of-the-art Satellite Broadband network for Core Banking applications across 700 cities in India

New Delhi, January 02 2008: Hughes Communications, the world's leading provider of broadband satellite services, Managed Network Services and products for businesses, governments and consumers today announced that it has been awarded a contract from State Bank of India to deploy a network for running its Core banking solution across 1300 branches in the country. Valued at Rs 40 crores, as a Managed Network Service Provider, Hughes will offer turnkey solutions like Satellite based VPNs, networking equipment i.e. routers & switches and managed services including system integration and network management. This project is one of the largest deals of its kind and will be rolled out on a fast track basis to be completed by February 2008.

Hughes will be deploying state of the art DVB-S2 based HN Series of products and CISCO routing equipment. The DVB-S2 is the latest generation standard for transmission over satellite. The "ACM" feature of this standard provides for the Adaptive Coding and Modulation (hence the ACM acronym) of the outbound channel. Delivering a fully managed broadband services via the DVB-S2 platform would allow Hughes to realize up to 50 percent more throughput over the satellite than with DVB-S and up to 20 percent more throughput over the satellite, thus offering SBI greater operational efficiencies and reliable & cost effective connectivity to their rural and semi urban branches.

Speaking on the deployment Partho Banerjee, President & CEO, Hughes Communications India Ltd. said, "There are many exciting and innovative developments happening in the banking industry and Hughes is proud to be servicing over 50 of the top banks in the country. Our relationship with State Bank of India dates to when we had just commenced our operations in the country, around 10 years ago. It is thus a matter of great honor for Hughes to deploy this prestigious network for the largest bank of India."

Globally too Hughes is a trusted service provider to major banks including Banco do Brasil, People's Bank of China, HSBC, ANZ etc. On an average over 7.5 million financial transactions are processed each day by retailers and financial customers on Hughes network.

About Hughes Communications India Ltd.

Hughes is the global leader in providing broadband satellite networks and services for large enterprises, governments, small businesses, and consumers. As per an international survey by Comsys, Hughes is the largest satellite services provider in the Asia Pacific region.

Branded under the name HughesNet, the company provides broadband solutions and managed services bridging the best of satellite and terrestrial technologies. Hughes has shipped more than 1 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.

Hughes has more than 30 years experience in designing and managing complex data networks. The company invented the VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) and has been the world market leader in providing satellite networks since 1986.