Hughes Providing CSK Auto With Managed Network Services Solution

HughesNet Managed Network Services Means Secure, Scalable Networking at 1,175 CSK Locations

GERMANTOWN, Md., Oct. 18 -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), a leader in the top-tier managed network services market, today announced that it has completed the rollout of HughesNet(TM) Managed Network Services at 1,175 CSK Auto retail locations. HughesNet Managed Network Services employs a combination of satellite and DSL broadband technologies as dictated by the needs of the customer, all managed through a common, fully- integrated service and support infrastructure.

Before choosing Hughes as its broadband service provider, CSK Auto considered an all-terrestrial network. However, after evaluating the various options, CSK concluded that the HughesNet Managed Network Services solution was the most effective means of meeting its security, coverage, and economic requirements.

CSK Auto owns and operates more than 1,280 retail auto parts stores in 22 Western and Midwestern states under the brand names Checker Auto Parts, Schuck's Auto Supply, Kragen Auto Parts, and Murray's Discount Auto Stores. CSK Auto is utilizing its HughesNet Managed Network Services as the backbone between its stores and corporate headquarters. According to Larry Buresh, CSK Auto's senior vice president and CIO at CSK Auto, is using the network to support numerous real-time applications such as credit and debit verifications, inventory availability inquiries, return verifications, as well as a variety of web-based back office applications.

"Besides the obvious need to control cost, security, coverage and managed services were high on our requirements list. After evaluating the various alternatives available to us, we concluded that the HughesNet service was the clear choice for meeting our array of requirements. No other solution provided the combination of security and geographic coverage," said Buresh. "The convenience of a fully managed service through a single point of contact was a key element in our decision as well."

"Hughes also assumed management responsibility for a number of stores that were already deployed with DSL," said Buresh. "Being able to pick up the phone and call one vendor for all of our broadband needs was a plus."

"We believe CSK's requirements are representative of the evolving needs of the marketplace. We've worked hard to develop our HughesNet broadband VPN offerings to meet the challenges our customers face. CSK conducted extensive evaluation and testing of the various alternatives prior to making their decision and we are extremely pleased to have been selected by them for this mission-critical network," said Ken Cohen, assistant vice president of marketing at Hughes.

  Rollout of the network was completed earlier this year.

  About CSK Auto

Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, CSK Auto Corporation , parent company of CSK Auto, Inc., is the largest retailer of automotive parts and accessories in the Western United States and one of the largest retailers of such products in the entire country based on number of stores. As of April 30, 2006, CSK Auto operates 1,288 stores in 22 states under the brand names Checker Auto Parts, Schuck's Auto Supply, Kragen Auto Parts and Murray's Discount Auto Stores.

About Hughes Network Systems

Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is the global leader in providing broadband satellite networks and services for large enterprises, governments, small businesses, and consumers. HughesNet is a fully managed, nationwide broadband offering from Hughes that encompasses all broadband solutions, 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.

Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes maintains sales and support offices worldwide. Hughes is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes Communications, Inc. . For additional information, please visit http://www.hughes.com/.

Hughes, HughesNet, and IPoS are trademarks of Hughes Network Systems, LLC.