Telesat Chooses Hughes Network Systems for Its Network Engineering Support Throughout Canada

Contract to Enable Broader Business Applications for Customers in Retail, Automotive, Banking and Government Industries

GERMANTOWN, Md., Sept. 10 -- Hughes Network Systems (HNS), Inc., the world's leading provider of broadband satellite network solutions, announced today that it has signed a three-year contract with Telesat, a Canadian satellite operator that provides telecommunications and broadcasting services to the Americas. Under the terms of the contract, HNS will provide Telesat with network engineering support for Telesat's six dedicated hubs throughout Canada.

"This new agreement with HNS will enable us to offer a wider variety of business-critical applications to our customers in the retail, automotive, banking and government markets," said Dennis Billard, Telesat's vice president of business development.

With over thirty years of engineering and technical experience, Telesat is a leader in the delivery of satellite communications solutions, and a highly respected consultant and partner in satellite ventures around the globe.

"Telesat has been a valued customer of HNS for the past 15 years and we look forward to working closely with them to bring the highest quality satellite technology solutions to the Canadian business and residential markets," said Harry George, vice president of sales for the North America Division of Hughes Network Systems.

About Hughes Network Systems

Hughes Network Systems, Inc. (HNS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes Electronics Corporation (HUGHES), is the world's leading provider of broadband satellite network solutions for businesses and consumers, with more than 500,000 systems ordered or shipped to customers in 85 countries. HNS pioneered the development of high-speed satellite Internet access services, with its market-leading broadband by satellite service, DIRECWAY(R). In addition, HNS is a leading manufacturer of DIRECTV(R) satellite television receivers, having shipped more than 12 million to date.

Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, HNS maintains sales and support offices worldwide. The earnings of HUGHES, a unit of General Motors Corporation, are used to calculate the earnings attributable to the General Motors Class H common stock . To learn more about HNS, please visit www.hns.com.

About Telesat

Telesat is a pioneer in satellite operations and systems management. The company made history in 1972 with the launch of the first domestic commercial communications satellite in geostationary orbit. Today, Telesat competes with the world's leading satellite fleets in providing telecommunications and broadcast distribution services throughout the Americas. Telesat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BCE Inc., Canada's largest communications company.

HUGHES, Hughes Network Systems, and DIRECWAY are trademarks of Hughes Electronics Corporation. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

   CONTACTS:

   Sylvette Barr                   Stacey Kerans
   Hughes Network Systems          Fleishman Hillard
   (301) 601-6373                  (202) 828-8859
   sbarr@hns.com                   keranss@fleishman.com