Spacenet announces Visa PCI compliance for its Prysm networking platform, plus other network services for retailers

McLean, VA, July 20, 2005 — Spacenet Inc. today announced that it has certified its Prysm networking platform with the Visa PCI Data Security Standard. Retail enterprises can safely rely on the data security of the Spacenet Prysm to guarantee that customer credit authorization data is transmitted securely across public networks.

Retailers using public network connections such as DSL Internet access must use a PCI-compliant secure network to transmit transaction data, and the Prysm provides this security for customers using public-Internet DSL connections from Spacenet or other ISPs. The Prysm has been certified by TrustWave as PCI Data Security Standard level 3 compliant. In addition, the Prysm provides asynchronous protocol encapsulation so that customers can use their serial-interface Point Of Sale devices over pure-IP data networks like DSL or cable. Spacenet’s satellite-based WAN networks offer built-in async protocol encapsulation over a private network, so a Prysm device is not required to achieve security compliance or protocol transport. 

Spacenet provides wide area network solutions for retail customers via satellite, DSL and hybrid VSAT/terrestrial connections, as well as value-added services and network management. The Prysm networking platform can be used in conjunction with Spacenet-provided connectivity or on its own, and provides support for retail applications, POS hardware interfaces, security, and backup connectivity. Prysm enables fast credit transactions processed in 5 seconds or less; the elimination of per transaction fees; and support for dial-up, VSAT and DSL backup connectivity. In addition, the Prysm can be used for a wide variety of other network management and application services such as firewalling/security, content delivery and VSAT network acceleration.

Spacenet President and CEO Bill Gerety said, “Spacenet has always been focused on meeting the networking and application needs of enterprise retail customers. The Prysm provides our customers with a high-quality, high-security multifunction application solution that can be used together with connectivity from Spacenet or even apart from it. We are convinced that Prysm will increase the value and efficiency of our customers’ networks, and we plan to add future updates to continue meeting their evolving requirements.”

About Spacenet
Spacenet is the worldwide services group of Gilat Satellite Networks. Spacenet Inc., based in McLean, Virginia, offers connectivity, value-added applications and managed networks to customers in North America and worldwide, including its Connexstar satellite and hybrid terrestrial broadband networking solutions for enterprise and government customers, and StarBand residential and small-office VSAT services. Spacenet has more than 20 years of experience providing wide area networks, application support, customer care and network management for some of the largest satellite-based networks in the world. Visit Spacenet at www.spacenet.com.

About Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd.
Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq: GILTF) is a leading provider of products and services for satellite-based communications networks. The Company operates under two business units: (i) Gilat Network Systems ("GNS"), which is a provider of network systems and associated professional services to service providers and operators and (ii) Spacenet, which provides managed services for businesses and governments through its Connexstar service brand, for consumers through its StarBand service brand and for rural communities through Spacenet Rural Communications.

Gilat was founded in 1987 and has shipped over 550,000 Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) to more than 80 countries across six continents. Gilat's headquarters is located in Petah Tikva, Israel. The Company has 14 local offices and 3 service facilities worldwide. Gilat markets the SkyEdge™ Product Family which includes the SkyEdge™ Pro, SkyEdge™ IP, SkyEdge™ Call, SkyEdge™ DVB-RCS and SkyEdge™ Gateway. In addition, the Company markets numerous other legacy products. Visit Gilat at www.gilat.com.

Spacenet Media Contact:
David Myers
Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development
(703) 848-1200
david.myers@spacenet.com