COMSAT International Plans to Increase Internet & IP-Based Services for Its Global Customers in 2000.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 2000

COMSAT International (CI), a business unit of COMSAT Corporation, will continue to advance its business services with IP-based solutions in the year 2000.

In the coming year, CI will follow up on the successful inauguration of GlobalWay(SM), a fully interconnected IP-based regional network in Latin America in September 1999. GlobalWay(SM) allows major business centers throughout the Americas to communicate via direct connections, reducing expense, improving service and eliminating the need for some expensive equipment.

At the end of 1999, Universo On Line (UOL), Latin America's largest internet service provider (ISP), chose COMSAT to provide essential information services including web hosting and web farming in Argentina and Mexico and Internet access services in Venezuela. In addition to providing Internet access in Latin America, UOL also has a Spanish Language Site, based in the United States, and serves the U.S. Hispanic community. UOL provides more than four million pages of news, information, entertainment, e-commerce and services and averages more than two million visits daily.

In these countries, the COMSAT subsidiaries secured agreements to deliver COMSAT web hosting and Internet access services to UOL. For each, COMSAT developed country specific communications solutions and combined these with personalized customer support.

"COMSAT's support and service quality were of great importance for our business," said Humberto R. Baptista, general technology manager of UOL International. "We chose COMSAT to be our farming and Internet connectivity provider because they really understand and complement our development plans for the Spanish-speaking market. Our negotiations with COMSAT Argentina resulted in positive, mutually beneficial agreements. COMSAT successfully provided tailor-made solutions requested by our offices, delivering outstanding quality services."

"We see the UOL agreements as solid examples of CI's commitment to fulfilling the information needs of its global business customers," said James J. Welch, president and general manager of COMSAT International.

Among CI's substantial achievements in 1999 was the selection of COMSAT Max (India) by the Delhi Stock Exchange to establish a nationwide network providing exchange members the ability to connect and trade online across the country. Also, for the third consecutive year, IDG Computerworld of Brasil recognized COMSAT Brasil as the "best satellite company" in Brazil.

Other significant accomplishments for CI in 1999 include:

-- COMSAT Turkey was selected by Siemens (Sim Net) to provide Internet access service in Turkey beginning in January 1999.

-- COMSAT Peru inaugurated its Advanced Wireless Telecommunications Network in Lima in May 1999.

--COMSAT MAX (India) won a nationwide three-year networking contract with Larsen & Toubro, Ltd., one of India's largest conglomerates in June 1999. s -- COMSAT Argentina was awarded a domestic and long distance voice license (service begins in November 2000) by the Communications Ministry in July 1999.

-- COMSAT Russia (BelCom) was chosen by Caterpillar Inc. to provide remote telecommunications services for operations in Northern Siberia in October 1999.

-- COMSAT Argentina was ranked the No. 1 service provider for wholesale Internet service revenues by IDC Latin America Report.

Additional key events in 1999 included COMSAT Colombia establishing an emergency communications network during the February 1999 earthquake in Columbia and COMSAT Turkey providing humanitarian assistance following the August 1999 earthquake in Turkey.

"COMSAT International emerged in 1999 as an IP-oriented service organization that businesses rely on to provide reliable end-to-end communications solutions. We now offer value added communications applications and solutions including Internet connections and networking, web hosting, e-commerce, remote database access, and virtual private networks for both regional and international markets," CI's Jim Welch concluded.

COMSAT International, a business unit of COMSAT Corporation, is a leading provider of Internet and digital networking solutions for regional and multinational customers and Internet Service Providers. Backed by more than 35 years of experience in global telecommunications, CI has operations in Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, India, Mexico, Peru, Russia, Turkey, and Venezuela. COMSAT Corporation (NYSE:CQ), headquartered in Bethesda, Md., is a leading provider of global satellite services and digital networking services, products and technology.