Hughes and China UnifiedNet Form Joint Venture

Hughes Network Systems and China UnifiedNet have formed a joint venture in China. HughesNet China and its licensed partner, Beijing UnifiedNet (together known as "Hughes China") will offer a wide range of managed broadband network services to leading telecom carriers and major enterprise customers, and will support the government's initiatives in expanding rural development through access to education and emergency communications across China.


Hughes China, headquartered in Beijing, expects to commence commercial services in the fourth quarter of this year utilizing the latest Hughes technologies, including HN System Network Operations Centers (NOCs) in Beijing and Chengdu, and high-performance HN9200 and HN9400 broadband satellite routers.


Mr. Ivan Chow, chief operating officer of China UnifiedNet and a director of HughesNet China, stated, "Hughes China has entered into framework agreements with two of the leading telecom carriers to provide managed services to their major business and government customers using both satellite and terrestrial technologies, and to provide services to meet the needs of rural education and emergency communications in the western provinces of China."http://www.hughes.com