Hughes Network Systems Launches Wireless Local Loop In

Mumbai, India for Hughes Ispat, Ltd. / In-Service Cutover PutsWorld's First ATM-based Class 5 Switch Into Operation Germantown, Md. (ots-PRNewswire) - Hughes Network Systems(HNS) today announced that Hughes Ispat, Ltd. (HIL), India'slargest private sector telecommunications operator, has justcompleted an in-service cutover of its wireless local loop (WLL)network from an NEC NEAX 61E switch to an NEC NEAX61 Sigmaswitch, the world's first ATM-based Class 5 switch for multimediaservices. With this cutover, HIL now is operating its state-of-the-art WLL network in the regions of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai andPune, all using NEC NEAX61 Sigma switches. Hughes Ispat is providing advanced telephony services to thestate of Maharashtra as part of the Indian government's programto allow multiple telephone companies to compete side by side tomeet the very large backlog demand for telephony services forbusinesses and residences. The wireless access component of the HIL network is providedby HNS' AIReach(TM) Local Loop system. The AIReach Local Loopsystem employs TDMA technology based on the IS-136 standard, themobile standard used by many of the major wireless carriersthroughout the world. AIReach Local Loop is optimized to providebasic telephone service using the TDMA access method. Thisoptimization addresses the stringent requirements in basictelephony for high quality and high availability and reliability.The higher capacity of this network supports the longer calldurations associated with fixed telephone service. The AIReachLocal Loop system is designed to be a transparent alternative totraditional wire that is in short supply in many areas of India. HNS has added a number of features to the AIReach Local Loopproduct deployed in the HIL networks including their latestgeneration of digital subscriber units with IS-641 voice codecs(used for IS-136 networks), fax and modem data services, andoptions for high-capacity E-TDMA operation where needed. HIL Chief Technical Officer Vinod Jain said, "We are verypleased at the smooth launch of the service in October 1998 andnow the in-service cutover. We are planning to grow rapidly andwill add additional radio cells as needed to provide the highquality service now available from HIL. We already have 6,000subscribers in service with a goal of 50,000 in 1999. Our long-term plans are for as many as 500,000 subscribers over the nextfew years." NEC vice president Satoru Inoue said, "The NEC NEAX61 Sigmarepresents the next generation in switching. We are pleased tointroduce this service in India through Hughes Ispat. We are alsovery pleased to interface to the HNS AIReach wireless local loopsystem via a V5.2 interface. The V5.2 interface is the latestworld standard for open interfaces to the switched network. NEChas pledged to meet that interface, allowing countries around theworld the necessary access to bring the newest services to ourswitch." The in-service switch cutover in Navi Mumbai completes thefirst phase of HIL's network deployment. The AIReach Local Loopequipment has been supplied by HNS. The system has been designedand integrated by HNS India Private Limited, a subsidiary of HNS.According to T.C. Raghavan, chief technical advisor and managerof network implementation for HIL, "The cutover to the NEAX61Sigma at the Navi Mumbai wireless exchange has been the mostchallenging task undertaken by NDSI and HNSI as there were morethan 2,400 live customers on the network. The cutover wasaccomplished in a matter of two hours without any disruption ofservice. With this cutover, HIL now has a seamless networkcovering Mumbai and Pune -- the biggest market in India." "Our wireless local loop service is just the first step inwireless access," said Jain. "Later this year, we plan to add newservices for the business community including HNS' newest fixedwireless access product, AIReach Broadband. This high capacity,point-to-multipoint service will allow HIL to provide the latestcapabilities for high-speed data access to the businesscommunity." About Hughes Ispat Hughes Ispat, Ltd. is a joint venture of Hughes NetworkSystems, ALLTEL Corporation, and Ispat Industries Ltd., a memberof the Ispat Group from India. HIL has been awarded a 15-yearlicense by the Government of India to build and operate atelecommunications network in the Maharashtra Telecom Circleincluding Mumbai and the state of Goa. About Hughes Network Systems Hughes Network Systems is a unit of Hughes ElectronicsCorporation. Based in Germantown, Maryland, USA, HNS develops andmarkets digital communications products and services worldwideincluding digital radio systems, private satellite networks usingVSATs, and consumer satellite products. HNS has been active inIndia Hughes Network Systems Launches Wireless Local Loop inMumbai, India, since the early 1980s through its threesubsidiaries, Hughes Escorts Communications, Ltd., HughesSoftware Systems Private, Ltd. and Hughes Network Systems IndiaPrivate, Ltd. The earnings of Hughes Electronics are used tocalculate the earnings per share attributable to (NYSE: GMH)common stock. About ALLTEL ALLTEL Corporation, also based in the USA, is one of thelargest independent service providers to fixed and mobiletelephony customers and specializes in information technologyservices for the telecommunications and financial sectors in 47countries. About Ispat Group The Ispat Group is among the top five steel producers in Indiaand is one of the largest producers of flat steel in the country.Ispat Group also has interests in the power and miningindustries. ots Original Text Service: Hughes Network SystemsInternet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Judy Blake ofHughes Network Systems (USA) 301-601-4004, or jblake@hns.com

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