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Press Release

Hughes Network Systems Europe Selects WildPackets For Network Management and Fault Diagnosis

Leading satellite network provider chooses EtherPeek NX(TM) from WildPackets for customer network audits and internal network analysis

Walnut Creek, CA - June 1, 2004

WildPackets, Inc. (www.wildpackets.com), innovators in advanced network services fault analysis, today announced that Hughes Network Systems Europe (HNSE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes Network Systems, Inc. (HNS), the world’s leading provider of broadband satellite solutions, has chosen EtherPeek NX as a key network management tool. HNSE uses EtherPeek NX to ensure that its DIRECWAY® satellite network solutions are accurately configured and sized to meet the unique demands of each customer, and to assist in monitoring and managing the company’s own internal networking systems.

EtherPeek NX was recommended and supplied to HNS Europe by MarQuest, a WildPackets UK-based channel partner, and was chosen after a number of other solutions were considered. EtherPeek NX was felt to be the most competitively priced, and the only product that met the stringent demands and complex requirements of this business initiative.

Jim Lunn, HNS Europe’s Technology Services Manager, said, “HNS Europe is in the business of providing high-quality, high-performance broadband satellite services for our customers, so the network is the core of our business. Therefore, the system that we use to monitor and manage our networks is absolutely critical. We chose EtherPeek NX from WildPackets because it comprehensively addressed both our internal and external network management requirements.”

EtherPeek NX’s ability to analyse individual packets within a network allows it to quickly identify faults with pinpoint accuracy. HNS Europe discovered one problem that was immediately resolved thanks to EtherPeek NX. “One of the devices on a customer network would randomly and infrequently drop a packet,” says Lunn. “This meant that entire message exchanges were lost. Had this continued, it could have caused major performance issues.”

The distributed functionality of WildPackets’ solution means that entire networks can be monitored from the “edge to the core,” allowing any faults to be identified and dealt with, ensuring minimal disruption to customer service and network performance.

Richard Buchanan, European Strategic Business Development Director for WildPackets, states, “Real-time fault analysis has been long sought after by IT professionals. Our “edge to core” product functionality delivers on this, helping our customers deal quickly and effectively with network performance, fault analysis, and security issues. HNS Europe provides the highest validation of this with their 100% business focus on providing optimal, uninterrupted network services to their customers.”

About Hughes Network Systems

Hughes Network Systems, Inc. (HNS), a wholly owned subsidiary of The DIRECTV Group, Inc., is the world's leading provider of broadband satellite network solutions for businesses and consumers, with more than 600,000 systems ordered or shipped to customers in 85 countries. HNS pioneered the development of high-speed satellite Internet access services, which it markets globally under the DIRECWAY® brand. In addition, HNS is a leading manufacturer of DIRECTV® satellite television receivers. Headquartered in Germantown, Maryland, USA, HNS maintains sales and support offices worldwide. For additional information, please visit www.hns.com.

About WildPackets Inc.

Since 1990, WildPackets has been advancing the science of network fault analysis. From the desktop to the datacenter, from wireless LANs to Gigabit backbones, on local segments and across distributed networks, WildPackets products enable IT organizations to quickly find and fix problems affecting mission-critical network services. WildPackets products are sold in over 60 countries through a broad network of channel and strategic partners. Customers across all industrial sectors use WildPackets products including Agilent, Cisco Systems, Comcast, EDS, Microsoft, Siemens AG, Unisys, Motorola, and Deutsche Bank. Strategic partners include Aruba, Atheros, Cisco, 3Com, Intel and Symbol Technologies. For further information, please visit www.wildpackets.com.

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