Colombia's Civil Aviation Administration Satellite Communications System Provided by Hughes Network Systems Passes Major Milestone.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 17, 2001

TES Quantum(TM) streamlines inter-airport voice

and data communications 

Last September, at the headquarters of Colombia's Civil Aviation Administration in Bogota, Dr. Ernesto Huertas Escallon, general director of the Civil Aviation Administration, unveiled a Hughes Network Systems (NYSE:GMH) satellite communications network before an audience of dignitaries, including Andres Pastrana Arango, president of the Republic of Colombia, officials from the Aeronautics Union, the major airlines, the Colombian armed forces, major telecommunications providers, Hughes Network Systems, and the press.

An additional milestone was achieved on November 2 when the advanced satellite system passed final acceptance testing.

"With this network, Colombia achieves an important advancement. This new communications system allows the Civilian Airport Authority's voice and data traffic to bypass the slower, more congested land-based telecommunications network, thereby making the Airport Authority more responsive," said Dr. Huertas at the inauguration ceremony.

Added President Pastrana in his remarks, "This network places Colombia at the vanguard of aeronavigation."

"The Hughes Network Systems TES Quantum network gives Colombia a secure, highly reliable and cost-effective communications system that can be expanded regardless of geography or terrestrial infrastructure," said Vinod Shukla, senior vice president of Hughes Network Systems. "We are pleased to contribute to Colombia's leadership in civil aviation."

Hughes Network Systems (HNS) designed, manufactured, and installed the TES Quantum network, a satellite-based digital telephony and data communications system being used to integrate national aeronautic voice and data traffic at the main U.A.E.A.C. airports and air traffic control facilities throughout Colombia.

The new system streamlines communications among air traffic controller locations, between controllers and aircraft, and between the primary air traffic control center in Bogota and the regional centers around Colombia. In addition, radar information from remote sites around the country is sent to Bogota and Barranquilla to provide a complete overview of the traffic at the central sites.

The system also simplifies various operational and administrative data communications and increases the quality and reliability of aeronautical services while providing greater flexibility in the expansion of services.

About Hughes Network Systems

Hughes Network Systems (HNS), a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation, the world's leading provider of digital information and entertainment services, is a global leader in providing wireless broadband and satellite solutions for businesses, governments and consumers.

HNS provides high-speed broadband and telephony services and products based on satellite technology with its award winning DirecPC(R) consumer service, world leading VSAT products and the TES(TM) family of telephony networks. HNS has products and networks operating in more than 87 countries. Headquartered 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 per share attributable to the General Motors Class H common stock (NYSE:GMH). To learn more about HNS, please visit www.hns.com.

DirecPC is a registered trademark and TES, and TES Quantum are trademarks of Hughes Corporation.