ARTEL Awarded $3.7 Million Task Order to Provide Satellite Services to U.S. Central Command in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

RESTON, Va. -- Future Value Estimated at $12.5 Million if All Options Exercised

ARTEL, Inc., a global leader in Information Technology (IT) and Managed Network Services, today announced that the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) has awarded ARTEL with a task order award to provide satellite services to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The award, valued at $3.7 million for the one-year base period, is worth more than $12.5 million if three, one-year option periods are fully exercised. In the developing or unstable countries where no infrastructure is in place for terrestrial services, satellites serve as the only reliable means of communication for the military as they carry out their missions.

The task order award was made under the Agency's Defense Information Systems Network Satellite Telecommunications Services-Global, (DSTS-G) contract. DSTS-G provides a contractual vehicle for the Defense Department, federal agencies, and other users authorized by DoD, to obtain global fixed satellite service (FSS) bandwidth and related satellite-based services and applications. DISA awarded ARTEL, one of three prime contractors, the DSTS-G contract in 2001.

Under the task order award, ARTEL will furnish CENTCOM with 224 MHz of bandwidth from Intelsat's IS 706 spacecraft. Half of the bandwidth will support time division multiple access services in-theater while the remaining 112 MHz will be used to provide single channel per carrier services. In addition, ARTEL will continue to provide Management and Control support services from its Network Operations Center (NOC) in Chantilly, Virginia. From the NOC, ARTEL provides real-time, proactive monitoring and maintains positive control over the day-to-day physical and logical configuration of leased bandwidth, earth terminals and associated terrestrial interconnection resources.

"ARTEL has been working with the Defense Department since 1986 and is looking forward to building on this legacy," said Abbas Yazdani, President and CEO of ARTEL. "We are committed to supporting our war fighters, as well as maintaining open communication among them, and will continue to provide key integrated services essential to the success of the Department of Defense's missions and programs.

The ARTEL Telecommunications Services Business Unit manages the delivery of wireless, wireline, satellite (C, Ku, VSAT), cross-oceanic and internet services through an alliance of leading global carriers.

About ARTEL, Inc.

Founded in 1986, ARTEL is a global leader in Information Technology providing a full spectrum of Managed Network services, Solutions Integration, Information Assurance/Homeland Security services and E-Government solutions to meet the critical business and technology objectives of its clients. With a performance record in six continents in both private and public sector markets, ARTEL provides solutions that cover the full life-cycle process, beginning with strategic business analysis and planning, and ending in full implementation. Visit ARTEL on the web at www.artelinc.com.