CABL Forum - The DIRECTV Group, Inc.

Hughes Network Systems Introduces Hot Spot Solution for Enterprises
DIRECWAY Wi-Fi Access Will Turn Hospitality and Retail Sites into Connection Destinations

Germantown, Md., March 23, 2004 ... Hughes Network Systems, Inc. (HNS), the world's leading provider of satellite broadband solutions which it markets under the DIRECWAY® brand, today introduced DIRECWAY Wi-Fi Access, its comprehensive Hot Spot solution for the enterprise market, including restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations, convenience stores, hotels, auto dealerships, truck stops, RV parks, and marinas.

Demand for broadband Internet access anytime, anywhere is fueling the growth of wireless fidelity, or Wi-Fi Hot Spots. From more than 5,000 reported last year, over 42,000 Hot Spots are estimated by year end 2004 in the US alone, serving as many as 27 million customers and generating more than $9 billion in annual revenue. What initially started as a niche service catering to the business traveler in airports and hotels has expanded to include all classes of "windshield warriors," laptop-wielding school and college students, truckers, campers and even stay-at-home parents.

"DIRECWAY Wi-Fi Access is a complete, managed Hot Spot solution that can turn any retail location into an Internet connection destination, encouraging repeat visits, attracting new patrons and extending peak hours," explained James Gandolfi, senior vice president and general manager, HNS San Diego. "It's a winning proposition for a business owner to provide customers with convenient broadband Internet access, and opens up the potential for incremental revenue streams via cross-selling and co-advertising with various other content, product and service providers."

The continent-wide reach of DIRECWAY Wi-Fi Access means that retailers can offer consistent, reliable Hot Spot service to any or all franchisee, or company-owned locations. And HNS provides a complete, high quality managed solution, including all equipment, installation, and back-end support services, including customer billing and network management.

DIRECWAY Wi-Fi Access is available now as an upgrade for existing enterprise customers of HNS' DIRECWAY broadband satellite service, and will be offered through all HNS sales channels, including its direct sales team and value-added distributors and resellers.

For information on becoming a DIRECWAY Wi-Fi Access provider, please call 1 888 HNS-WIFI / 1-888-467-9434 or e-mail us at (-REDACTED-) .

About Hughes Network Systems
Hughes Network Systems, Inc. (HNS), a wholly owned subsidiary of The DIRECTV Group, Inc., is the world's leading provider of broadband satellite network solutions for businesses and consumers, with more than 600,000 systems ordered or shipped to customers in 85 countries. HNS pioneered the development of high-speed satellite Internet access services, which it markets globally under the DIRECWAY brand. In addition, HNS is a leading manufacturer of DIRECTV® satellite television receivers, having shipped more than 14 million to date.

Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, HNS maintains sales and support offices worldwide. The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (NYSE:DTV), formerly Hughes Electronics Corporation (NYSE:HS), is 34 percent owned by Fox Entertainment Group, which is approximately 82 percent owned by News Corporation Ltd. For additional information, please visit www.hns.com.
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Hughes, Hughes Network Systems, DIRECWAY, and DIRECTV are trademarks of The DIRECTV Group, Inc.

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