GERMANTOWN, Md., Nov. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite networks and services, today announced that Internet service provider IG Telecom, headquartered in Libreville, Gabon, has chosen the Hughes HN broadband satellite solution to expand its services throughout the Central African nation and surrounding countries.

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IG Telecom will employ the market-leading Hughes HN System, comprising a Network Operations Center (NOC) and up to 2,000 HN9260 routers, to expand high-speed satellite Internet and VoIP service to homes and small-to-medium business (SMBs) in under-served areas of Gabon and neighboring countries. In addition, Hughes customized the antenna solution to include a dual LNB, which enables IG Telecom to deliver a triple play offering including the French direct-to-home (DTH) television service Canal +.

"We evaluated Hughes along with other broadband satellite system providers and found the Hughes HN System to be the most reliable and cost effective," said Alain Ba Oumar, president of IG Telecom. "The NOC and routers will be a big part of our initiative to extend Internet services to currently un-served areas. An additional benefit is the ability to provide our customers with DTH service using the same outdoor equipment."

"We are proud that IG Telecom selected Hughes technology, and especially to provide this exciting triple play offering," said Kannan Soupramanien, regional sales director for French-speaking Africa at Hughes. "The HN System is widely deployed globally, and powers the world's largest high-speed Internet service, with over 620,000 HughesNet^® subscribers in the U.S. We are confident that IG Telecom will experience great success with this system."

About IG Telecom
IG Telecom is the number one VSAT operator in West Africa region with over 500 installed VSAT sites. A private next-generation operator in West Africa since 2011, IG Telecom is providing shared and dedicated broadband Internet access to small office/home office (SOHOs), small/medium enterprises (SMEs) and private satellite networks to government organizations and large corporations. The relationships with Hughes and SES allow IG Telecom to provide broadband Internet access, VoIP and the French Canal+ DTH service to customers in the region.

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 2.8 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.

©2012 Hughes Network Systems, LLC, an EchoStar company. Hughes and HughesNet are registered trademarks of Hughes Network Systems, LLC. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Hughes Network Systems, LLC