Spacenet Adds American Farm Bureau Unit as Reseller for its Connexstar Business-Grade Satellite Broadband Service

AFBF unit reduces connectivity costs, improves service by deploying high-speed Internet offering at offices nationwide

McLean, VA, December 12, 2002 - Today American Agricultural Communications Systems, Inc. (AACS) announced it has contracted with Spacenet Inc. to become an authorized reseller of the Spacenet’s Connexstar business-grade satellite broadband service. AACS (Park Ridge, Ill.; www.fbcountry.com) is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the nation’s largest farm organization and a long-time Spacenet custom-network customer.

Until now, many Farm Bureau companies have been forced to pay a premium for wireline broadband technologies such as frame relay due to their largely rural locations. By switching to Connexstar, the Farm Bureau estimates it will save some companies as much as 70 percent on their current frame relay connectivity charges.

Connexstar, introduced in January, provides affordable, commercial-grade, private-network broadband satellite connectivity to America’s small and mid-size multi-unit enterprises.

Casey Wojciechowski, AACS General Manager said, “Many Farm Bureau companies have moved their daily interactive operations – usually involving forms processing and other Web-based applications – to the Internet. Consequently, they have a clear and compelling need for reliable, robust high-speed Internet access. While frame relay is available to many insurance companies, we can get as much or more reliability and performance from our new Connexstar platform, at a significantly lower expense. We expect many Farm Bureau companies to replace their frame relay connections with Connexstar within the coming year.”

Spacenet’s President and CEO Nick Supron said “AFBF is one of the largest and most influential organizations serving the needs of rural America. AFBF’s decision to become a channel for Connexstar demonstrates their confidence in our technology and their ongoing commitment to offer their members the most innovative and effective communications solutions available.”
Background on Spacenet's Connexstar service

Powered by Gilat's Skystar 360E VSAT platform, Connexstar provides commercial-grade, always-on high-speed Internet connectivity anywhere in the continental United States, with the ability to add high-speed credit authorization, commercially licensed TV and music, distance learning, content multicasting and secure private networking services using the same remote site hardware. Connexstar services include business-grade installation, integrated routing functionality, depot maintenance and second-level help desk support. A variety of on-site field service options – such as 24x7 help desk and same day, 7x12 on-site maintenance – are also available to meet specific business requirements. Embedded TCP/IP implementation coupled with Gilat’s industry-leading Internet browsing acceleration technologies provides high performance and enhanced user experience. Learn more about Connexstar at www.connexstar.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 two-way, satellite-based, broadband networking solutions for a wide range of organizations throughout North America. These solutions include provision of all equipment, bandwidth, implementation and ongoing network and field support on a full turnkey, outsource basis. 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