Exhibit 4.1


THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT
AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR
ANY STATE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR
TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER
SAID ACT OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS.

ADDITIONALLY, THE TRANSFER OF THESE SECURITIES IS SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS
SPECIFIED IN THE NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT DATED AS OF DECEMBER 30, 2005, AMONG
THE ISSUER HEREOF AND CERTAIN OTHER SIGNATORIES THERETO. UPON THE FULFILLMENT OF
CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE ISSUER HEREOF HAS AGREED TO DELIVER TO THE HOLDER HEREOF
A NEW CERTIFICATE, NOT BEARING THIS LEGEND, FOR THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED
HEREBY REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE HOLDER HEREOF. COPIES OF SUCH AGREEMENT MAY
BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS
CERTIFICATE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ISSUER HEREOF.

                         8% Senior Secured Note due 2007

No. 1
U.S. $[               ]                                   Dated: January 1, 2006

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, Hughes Communications, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Issuer"), HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to [       ] (the
"Holder") or its successors or assigns the principal sum of [      ] ($[     ]),
or such greater or lesser principal amount of this Note then outstanding, on
January 1, 2007. Interest shall accrue from the date of the transfer of funds to
the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Note Purchase Agreement (as
hereinafter defined) on the unpaid balance hereof at the rate of 8.0% per annum
("Deferred Interest") and the outstanding principal hereof shall be
automatically increased by an amount equal to the Deferred Interest on each
Deferred Interest Payment Date. Deferred Interest shall be calculated on the
basis of a year of 360 days, consisting of twelve, 30-day months.

         This Note is one of the Notes (herein called the "Notes") issued
pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 30, 2005 (as
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Note Purchase Agreement"), among the Issuer and the other parties thereto, and
is subject to the terms thereof. All capitalized terms used but not defined
herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Note Purchase
Agreement.

         So long as any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
the Issuer shall pay, in cash on demand from time to time, interest to the
extent permitted by Law at a rate per annum equal to 4.0% above the Stated Rate
on the outstanding principal amount hereof and any unpaid interest then due and
payable hereon.

         Payments of principal of, interest on and premium, if any, with respect
to this Note are to be made in lawful money of the United States of America, in
immediately available funds, to such account as the holder of this Note shall
have specified by written notice to the Issuer as provided in the Note Purchase
Agreement.

         Pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Note Purchase Agreement and subject to
the limitations specified therein, upon consummation of the Rights Offering,
this Note, if held by an Initial Noteholder, shall automatically convert to the
number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the aggregate principal
amount outstanding on this Note, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, by the
per share subscription price of Common Stock in the Rights Offering.

         This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Note Purchase
Agreement, upon surrender of this Note for registration of Transfer, duly
endorsed, or accompanied by a written instrument of Transfer duly executed, by
the registered Holder hereof or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in
writing, and compliance with the other provisions of the Note Purchase
Agreement, a new Note for the appropriate principal amount will be issued to,
and registered in the name of, the transferee. Prior to due presentment for
registration of Transfer, the Issuer may treat the Person in whose name this
Note is registered as the owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and
for all other purposes, and the Issuer will not be affected by any notice to the
contrary.

         This Note is subject to prepayment, in whole or from time to time in
part, at the times and on the terms specified in the Note Purchase Agreement,
but not otherwise.

                  If an Event of Default under the Note Purchase Agreement
occurs and is continuing, the principal of and accrued but unpaid interest and
liquidated damages, if any, on this Note may be declared or otherwise become due
and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Note Purchase
Agreement.

         Demand, presentment, protest and notice of non-payment and protest are
hereby waived by the Issuer.

         This Note shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

                                     *******



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this Note to be executed by
its duly authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.



                                         HUGHES COMMUNICATIONS, INC.


                                         By:
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title: