Global Eagle Entertainment and Hughes Partner for Next Generation HT Aero Modem to the Mobility Market

New High-Throughput Aero Satellite Modem Will Support HD Streaming and High-Speed Connectivity While Inflight

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 21, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Eagle Entertainment Inc. (“GEE”) (Nasdaq:ENT), a worldwide provider of aircraft connectivity systems, operations solutions and media content to the travel industry, today announced a new agreement with Hughes Network Systems, LLC (“Hughes”), the world’s leading provider of broadband satellite solutions and services, to utilize Hughes’ JUPITER™ System HT Aero Modem to power GEE’s next-generation, high-performance broadband aeronautical service.

This newest version of Hughes’ HT Aero Modem incorporates significant technological advances that will enable GEE to deliver industry leading aeronautical services on any Ku-band satellite, including both wide beam and HTS systems.

Hughes’ HT Aero Modem, including the core router module and JUPITER mobility technology, features the JUPITER System second-generation SoC (System on a chip) that supports 200 Mbps of throughput, readily accommodating the highest demands for aeronautical broadband. Compared to Hughes’ prior-generation mobility terminal, the new HT modem delivers over a 10 times increase in throughput performance to an individual aircraft. Designed for the aviation broadband industry, the HT Aero Modem technology also provides faster spot beam and satellite switchover times. The modem is DO160 compliant and is compatible with GEE’s current antenna system, enabling easy and cost-effective upgrade to improve speeds for GEE’s current connected fleet of nearly 700 aircraft.

“We’re excited to expand our already strong partnership with Hughes and to incorporate this new technology to provide unrivaled connectivity to passengers,” commented Dave Davis, CEO of GEE. “With the upcoming launch of our new Global Ku antenna, the impending launch of Ku HTS satellites and this new technology from Hughes, we anticipate massive strides forward in the global inflight connectivity market and continued improvements in the passenger experience.”

“Hughes and GEE have been partners for nearly a decade, so we’re extremely pleased to be providing GEE and its customers with our market-leading JUPITER System, featuring the new JUPITER HT Aero Modem,” said Paul Gaske, Executive Vice President at Hughes. “We believe GEE’s adoption of our latest technology will greatly facilitate its continued leadership in the industry and, the ability to easily retrofit this platform into its large existing fleet of customer aircraft will be a huge benefit to both GEE and its customers.”

About Global Eagle Entertainment (GEE)

Global Eagle Entertainment Inc. (Nasdaq:ENT) is a worldwide provider of aircraft connectivity systems, operations solutions and media content to the travel industry. Through the industry’s most comprehensive product and services platform, Global Eagle Entertainment provides airlines with a wide range of in-flight solutions. These include Wi-Fi, movies, television, music, interactive software, as well as portable IFE solutions, content management services, e-commerce solutions and original content development.  Serving more than 200 airlines worldwide, Global Eagle Entertainment delivers exceptional quality and value to its customers to help them achieve their passenger experience objectives.  The company’s headquarters are located in Los Angeles, California, with offices and teams located in North America, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Oceania and South America.  Find out more at: www.geemedia.com.

About Hughes Network Systems

Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes) is the global leader in satellite broadband for home and office, delivering innovative solutions and a comprehensive suite of HughesON™ managed services for enterprises and governments worldwide. 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 5 million systems to customers in over 100 countries, representing approximately 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.

About EchoStar

EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ:SATS) is a premier global provider of satellite and video delivery solutions. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., and conducting business around the globe, EchoStar is a pioneer in secure communications technologies through its EchoStar Satellite Services, EchoStar Technologies Corporation and Hughes Network Systems business segments.

For more information, visit echostar.com. Follow @EchoStar on Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

We make forward-looking statements in this press release. These forward-looking statements relate to expectations or forecasts for future events, including without limitation, our earnings, revenues, expenses or other future financial or business performance or strategies, or the impact of legal or regulatory matters on our business, results of operations or financial condition. These statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words "may," "might," "will," "will likely result," "should," "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "continue," "target" or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date they were made, and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those risks and uncertainties described in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as amended, and subsequently filed reports on Form 10-Q, as amended. As a result, our actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Contact:

Jenelle Benoit
Director, Marketing & Communications
+1 310-321-6612
pr@geemedia.com

Kevin Trosian
Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations
+1 310-740-8624
Investor.relations@geemedia.com

Released October 21, 2015