HUGHES SPACE AND COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
HUGHES SPACE AND COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
Communications and Customer Relations
P.O. Box 92919 (S10/S323)
Los Angeles, CA 90009
(310) 364-6363
www.hughespace.com		 HSC Logo


HUGHES UNDER CONTRACT FOR RUSSIAN TV SATELLITE (photo)

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 23, 1997 -- Hughes Space and Communications International, Inc., has been awarded its first Russian contract for a telecommunications satellite, launch vehicle services, and ground station control equipment from BONUM-1. BONUM-1 is a subsidiary of Media Most, a major private Russian media group, which is developing satellite television broadcasting services in Russia. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The new satellite, which will bear the name of its owner, will be an HS 376 high-power model satellite and will provide digital direct-to-home television services to the western part of Russia. The satellite is scheduled for delivery in-orbit in November 1998 and will be launched on a Boeing Delta II launch vehicle. Hughes will also provide the BONUM-1 ground satellite control equipment for use at the control center, and will provide training to the satellite controllers.

"As the world's premier direct-to-home service provider, we at Hughes are proud to have been selected to build BONUM-1," said Donald L. Cromer, president of Hughes Space and Communications Company, which will manufacture the spacecraft. "We are pleased to be chosen for this award and to be able to support this growing region of the world."

BONUM-1 will contain eight active Ku-band transponders, which, as a result of digital compression technology, will be capable of providing up to 50 channels using 75-watt traveling wave tube amplifiers.

BONUM-1 will be located at 36 degrees East longitude and will have a service life of 11 years.

BONUM-1 is the 53rd HS 376 model satellite to be ordered from Hughes by customers around the world, and will be built at Hughes' Integrated Satellite Factory in El Segundo, Calif.

Hughes Space and Communications International is the international marketing organization within Hughes Space and Communications Company, the world's leading manufacturer of commercial communications satellites. It is a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation. The earnings of Hughes Electronics are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to GMH (NYSE symbol) common stock.

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