Friendly's Selects Spacenet to Provide VSAT Satellite Communications Network to Over 500 Full-Service Restaurants

Friendly's will use high-performance Skystar Advantage® platform for IP multicasting and cutting-edge POS applications

McLean, VA, December 11, 2000 — Spacenet Inc. today announced it has been selected by Friendly Ice Cream Corporation to provide a high-speed satellite communications network to more than 500 Friendly's restaurant locations in the Eastern United States.

Peter Palumbo, Friendly's Senior Director, Information Technology, said, "Gilat's Skystar Advantage Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) network provides the increased bandwidth capabilities and Internet Protocol (IP) support needed to deploy store polling, inventory management and credit authorization applications that have become critical to efficient operation of our business."

Palumbo added, "Spacenet's combination of leading-edge technology, responsive service and compelling economics made it the clear favorite for serving our business requirements. In addition, our research indicated that Skystar Advantage offers superior support for IP applications. This combination made it the ideal platform for our needs."

Skystar Advantage will also support IP multicasting to allow Friendly's Wilbraham, Mass. headquarters to send large software files and price updates to stores, and confirm delivery of those files. The network will also support human resources data management, which Friendly's runs over IP.

In the future, the Internet-optimized Skystar Advantage platform will enable Friendly's to add broadband IP applications such as in-store audio for music and promotional messages, and video broadcasting for employee training and corporate communications.

David R. Shiff, Spacenet's Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said, "An increasing number of restaurant chains are adopting applications which require persistent, broadband connectivity. Common among these requirements has been the ability to support both legacy and IP applications and the need for highly favorable economics. Friendly's joins a number of restaurant organizations that have adopted our technology and we are extremely pleased to have been selected to provide this network."

Skystar Advantage will be deployed in Friendly's stand-alone locations, as well as their mall locations. Network implementation is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2001. Spacenet's comprehensive VSAT network solution for Friendly's includes turnkey installation of all remote site equipment, as well as network operations and field maintenance.

About Friendly's
Friendly's is a leading full-service restaurant operator and has a leading position in premium frozen dessert sales in the Northeast. The Company owns and operates 459 and franchises 120 full-service restaurants in 17 states and manufactures a complete line of packaged frozen desserts distributed through more than 3,500 supermarkets and other retail locations. Friendly Ice Cream Corporation (AMEX: FRN) is on the World Wide Web at www.friendlys.com.

About Spacenet
With headquarters in McLean, Virginia, Spacenet Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. of Petah Tikva, Israel. Spacenet provides a wide range of satellite communications networks and services throughout North America, including access to satellite transponder capacity, installation of network equipment, network monitoring and control, as well as maintenance and repair. Visit Spacenet at www.spacenet.com.
 
Spacenet Media Contact:
David Myers
Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development
(703) 848-1200
david.myers@spacenet.com