Hughes Enables a Digital Signage Solution for Carrefour in Brazil

Hughes Enables a Digital Signage Solution for Carrefour in Brazil

HughesNet Managed Service Solution Connects all Brazilian Carrefour's Retail Stores for Interactive Media POP Marketing

GERMANTOWN, Md., March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite solutions and services, announced today that it has completed the installation of a HughesNet(R) Managed Service Solution connecting 108 Hypermarket store locations of Carrefour in Brazil to deliver Carrefour TV. CerejaPRN, the largest in-store media company in Brazil, selected Hughes in late 2007 to connect all Carrefour stores via its nationwide HughesNet broadband satellite service.

Every store is now equipped with flat screen panels in strategic locations with high consumer traffic, such as the produce and meat sections, and at cashier stations. Both editorial content and advertising from Carrefour and other advertisers will be delivered to these locations. Selected partners will provide this new in-store media solution with beauty, cuisine, and travel tips, as well as technology and sports news, to enhance the shopping experience for customers, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

"With its nationwide footprint and high quality of service, Hughes was the only company able to meet all our operational requirements and cost-effectively enable our project," said Flavia Sampaio, operations director, CerejaPRN. "HughesNet two-way connectivity throughout Brazil also allows us to proactively manage the entire service provided to Carrefour remotely."

The HughesNet Digital Signage solution is capable of simultaneously transmitting a large amount of content to every point in the network and is bidirectional, meaning that each remote point can receive and transmit information by satellite, enabling CerejaPRN to monitor every Carrefour supermarket remotely. The HughesNet solution also provides advanced reporting and reliability measures -- reassuring advertisers that their messages are delivered to the point of purchase.

Fabio Riccetto, Hughes sales director in Brazil said, "Retailers can use our HughesNet solution to enhance customer satisfaction, differentiate the shopping experience, and as a result, increase sales. We are excited to be selected and integrated with CerejaPRN's retail media solutions, which validates our ability to deliver superior network coverage and quality cost-effectively."

CerejaPRN is a joint-venture between Cereja Digital, a leading out-of-home digital media company in Brazil, and Premier Retail Networks (PRN), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thomson SA (NYSE:TMS) , the worldwide leader in retail media networks.

About Carrefour Network

Carrefour's new digital retail media network will include three channels, each one with specific configuration and lineup. The Storewide channel, placed at higher traffic locations and primary corridors, will be used to inform and entertain consumers while motivating them to visit other store sections. The Checkout channel will provide customers with entertainment and information

while waiting at the checkout lines. At the electronics section the VideoWall channel will provide entertainment and information on new technologies.

About PRN

The recent arrival in Brazil of Thomson (NYSE:TMS) , through its wholly-owned subsidiary Premier Retail Networks (PRN), opened the road for a new kind of advertisement: the audiovisual digital media at POP. PRN has 300 million viewers every month and is the worldwide leader in retail media networks, will lead the development of this new approach to advertizing.

In 2007, PRN extended the reach of its in-store media networks to various countries including Poland, China and now Brazil in conjunction with Cereja Digital. PRN was already the undisputed market leader in the U.S., with retail media networks in more than 6,500 stores nationwide, and 250 million viewers every month. With the addition of the Poland, China and Brazil networks, PRN's in-store media networks passed the 300 million viewer threshold. In Brazil surveys show that consumers make 75% of their purchase decisions at the POP -- thus the importance of this media at the store.

About Hughes Network Systems

Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is the global leader in providing broadband satellite networks and services for large enterprises, governments, small businesses, and consumers. HughesNet(R) encompasses all broadband solutions and managed services from Hughes, bridging the best of satellite and terrestrial technologies. Hughes has shipped more than 1.5 million systems to customers in over 100 countries. Its broadband satellite products are based on global standards approved by the TIA, ETSI and ITU standards organizations, including IPoS/DVB-S2, RSM-A and GMR-1.

Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes maintains sales and support offices worldwide. Hughes is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:HUGH) . For additional information, please visit www.hughes.com.

Hughes and HughesNet are registered trademarks of Hughes Network Systems, LLC.

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Source: Hughes Network Systems

CONTACT: Judy Blake of Hughes Network Systems, +1-301-601-7330,
jblake@hns.com; or Cristina Camarena of Brodeur, +55-11-3323-1606,
cristina.camarena@brodeur.com.br

Web site: http://www.hughes.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment