The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a very active 2006 North Atlantic hurricane season (June 1 - Nov. 30) and is urging people in hurricane prone areas to make preparations. NOAA's outlook indicates an 80% chance of an above-normal hurricane season.

In an announcement made May 22, 2006 for the National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 21 - 27), NOAA stated that a "very active hurricane season is looming." NOAA is predicting 13 to 16 named storms, with eight to 10 becoming hurricanes, of which four to six could become 'major' hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher.

In light of these predications and the experience gained from the 2005 hurricane season, Hughes has developed a range of emergency communications offerings under its HughesNet(TM) suite of services, for enterprises, government agencies and relief organizations:

- Access Continuity Service: a private satellite network with pre- installed terminals that automatically switch-over in the event of primary path failure;

- Emergency Network Restoral: a pre-established private network with satellite terminals deployed rapidly following an incident; and

- Emergency Business Internet: expedited installation of satellite terminals providing broadband Internet access to affected locations.

Satellite communications played a crucial role in the aftermath of the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year. Hughes and its team of value-added resellers worked closely with organizations in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida to deploy emergency HughesNet satellite services and related equipment to reconnect people with their families, find medical care, and obtain relief services.

"For over twenty years, satellite networks have provided vital day-to-day communications for businesses and government agencies around the world. And as we saw with the hurricanes of 2005, satellite technology is robust and can be deployed quickly when disaster strikes," said Pradman Kaul, chairman and CEO of Hughes.

"Satellite communications provides a viable alternative infrastructure when terrestrial networks are severely damaged. We are poised to respond when and where needed during the 2006 hurricane season."

Hughes Network Systems

Hughes Network Systems 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. To date Hughes has shipped more than one 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 standards organizations.

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