HNS and General Growth Properties, the nation's second largest owner, manager and developer of regional shopping malls, enjoy a working relationship spanning several years in an ongoing effort to provide advanced communications capabilities for retail mall tenants.

HNS' Retail Telecommunications Services (RTS) is a shared VSAT technology solution that establishes a single VSAT point-of-presence within the mall from which connectivity to all retailers in the mall is provided by a Hughes- engineered and -owned backbone wiring infrastructure.

The significant factor is that even the smaller retail chains within a mall environment that had heretofore been unable to avail themselves of the benefits of VSAT technology, can now gain access to the speed, security, and functional benefits that the technology provides.

Furthermore, in addition to being competitively priced, there is no capital investment required by the retail subscriber as all charges, including bandwidth, hardware, installation, and maintenance, are bundled into a fixed, low monthly service charge.

Many of General Growth Properties' retailers use the VSAT network for credit card verification, inventory control, email, establishment of corporate Intranets, and to provide promotional material and information throughout their retail outlets.

Based on the benefits HNS' VSAT solutions bring to its customers, General Growth Properties decided to use the technology to link administrative offices in 104 enclosed shopping malls around the country to their corporate headquarters in Chicago, IL. As a result, critical business data will be shared quickly and more efficiently.

"Hughes Network Systems' proven track record of success for our retail mall customers made it clear that General Growth Properties could reap benefits from a VSAT network as well," said Kevin Moss, vice president, Business Technology, General Growth Properties. "A key advantage is that all our disparate terrestrial networks can be consolidated on a single, cost- effective VSAT network."

Ken Cohen, assistant vice president, Satellite Networks Division at HNS, said, "We have worked with General Growth Properties for many years and enjoy a solid and mutually satisfying relationship. The fact that they have chosen to implement our VSAT technology is a testament to the success we've had establishing quality communications in the retail mall environment."

About General Growth Properties

General Growth Properties Inc. is the nation's second largest owner, manager and developer of regional shopping malls. General Growth currently has ownership interests in, or management responsibilities for, a portfolio of 120 regional shopping malls in 39 states. The company portfolio currently totals more than 100 million square feet of retail space including two regional shopping malls under construction in Grandville (Grand Rapids), Michigan and Frisco (Dallas), Texas. A publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), General Growth Properties is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GGP.