Hughes to Support FIRST® Robotics Competition for Seventh Year

Annual Event Promotes STEM Education, Mentors Future Leaders

GERMANTOWN, Md., March 26, 2013 — (PRNewswire) — Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite solutions and services, today announced it will support the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Competition for the seventh consecutive year. Hughes is sponsoring the DC Regional competition and will participate in judging the Chesapeake Regional competition. The DC Regional competition will be held March 28-30, 2013 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC. The Chesapeake Regional competition will be held April 11-13, 2013 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Winners of the regional competitions will participate in the FIRST Championship being held April 24-27, 2013 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri.

"Technology enables greater connectedness, powers the global economy and advances our standards of living," said Dr. Arunas Slekys, vice president of Corporate Marketing, Hughes. "FIRST Robotics programs give students the opportunity to see science, technology, engineering and mathematics in action, helping nurture a lifetime love for the sciences and helping develop our next generation of technology leaders."

The FIRST Robotics Competition gathers teams of high school students to build a complete robotics package. Coaches, or mentors, help the teams advance all aspects of development, including fundraising, brand development and programming a robot to complete specified tasks. Teams are judged for robot design, creativity, innovation, performance and teamwork throughout the development process as well as during the competition phases.

"I am proud to work for a company that supports the future growth of our technology and engineering leaders," said Allen Murray, senior director of the Defense and Intelligence Systems Division, Hughes, and judge at the Chesapeake Regional FIRST Robotics Competition. "Scientific advancements are foundational for our government and military to remain efficient and effective as technology shifts the means to mission success. I look forward to reviewing the projects and meeting with the teams at the Chesapeake Regional."

About FIRST
The mission of FIRST is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

Accomplished inventor Dean Kamen founded FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in 1989 to inspire an appreciation of science and technology in young people. Based in Manchester, N.H., FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs to build self confidence, knowledge, and life skills, while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology, and engineering. With support from three out of every five Fortune 500 companies and nearly $12 million in college scholarships, the not-for-profit organization hosts the FIRST^® Robotics Competition (FRC^®) and FIRST^®Tech Challenge (FTC^®) for high-school students, FIRST^®LEGO^® League (FLL^®) for 9 to 14-year-olds, (9 to 16-year-olds outside the U.S. and Canada) and Junior FIRST^® LEGO^® League (Jr.FLL) for 6 to 9-year-olds. Gracious Professionalism™ is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. To learn more about FIRST, go to www.usfirst.org.

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.

SOURCE Hughes Network Systems, LLC

Contact:

Hughes Network Systems, LLC
For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology
Erin Studer, Hughes Network Systems, LLC, (301) 601-7216, Email Contact Kristin Graybill, ConnellyWorks, Inc., (571) 323-2585 ext. 2190, Email Contact
Web: http://www.hns.com/