Gilat Successfully Launches TrainNet-Based e-Learning Service for The University of Derby.

Business & Technology Editors

PETACH-TIKVA, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 2000

Gilat Communications, Ltd. (NASDAQ:GICOF) and the University of Derby today announced that they have successfully launched the University of Derby's e-learning project bringing thousands of hours of live lessons from five (5) studios located at the University of Derby in England to 25 remote classrooms around Israel.

The system includes Gilat's e-learning solutions which broadcast live, high quality video and enable full interaction between the lecturer and the students, including a live video image of each classroom that is viewed in real-time by the lecturer, creating a true virtual classroom environment.

The ability to conduct a live lesson comprising a large group of geographically dispersed participants opens the opportunity to choose the best available lecturers. Moreover - it makes it possible to bring in guest lecturers who are at the top of their fields and broadcast their lectures simultaneously to a worldwide audience, while maintaining real communication and collaboration between student and lecturer and among the students themselves.

The entire network, including the integration of the TrainNet platform with the various telecommunications networks, was set up in three months. Gilat set up a support team (24/7 online Help Desk) dedicated to the successful assimilation of the system, including training of the teaching staff and the operations team. As soon as the system was up, it became operational and during its first week on the air supported 70 hours of live learning.

Avi Bitan, General Manager of the University of Derby's Israel extension, said, "After examining a wide variety of e-learning options, we felt that the solutions presented by Gilat were technologically far superior, especially because of its classroom management capabilities and Gilat's know-how as a communications solutions provider. These were key elements in our decision to go with Gilat Communications."

Gilat Communications Chairman and CEO Shlomo Tirosh, said, "The success of this project is a major breakthrough for academic distance learning worldwide. The Derby model will be a prototype upon which other academic institutions can base their e-learning programs. The video-intensive TrainNet platform brings the lecturer to the student wherever he or she may be. The successful pairing of technology and methodology brings real and meaningful interaction to the virtual classroom."

30% of all required teaching of University of Derby extension in Israel is expected to be delivered from England via the new system. The University of Derby plans to operate the TrainNet network 6 days a week, providing up to 5 different lessons simultaneously.

About the University of Derby

The Derby is recognized for being at the forefront of educational developments in the UK and has a strong track record of realizing the potential of new technology for learning. Derby's highly progressive approach was underlined in 1998 when the university merged with High Peak College, in Buxton, Derbyshire - a national first between a university and a college of further education. The merger has created a 25,000-strong student community of which 11,000 students are part-time.

International activity is seen as an integral part of the university`s culture of promoting individual achievement throughout life and Derby's established overseas franchise partnerships - most notably Israel - continue to be strengthened to ensure the highest possible quality of provision.

Although a modern, progressive university, Derby's antecedents can nevertheless be traced to the 1880's, with its first degrees being awarded in 1886. The Israel Extension of the university of Derby operating in six centers around Israel Efal, Rishon Le Zion, Kfar Saba, Haifa, Jerusalem and Beer Sheva with more than 6000 students mainly business undergraduate students and also students pursuing MBA MA-HRM, MA Marketing, M.ED, and BA Tourism courses of study.

About Gilat Communications

Gilat Communications, Ltd. is a leading developer and provider of end-to-end interactive distance learning (IDL) solutions worldwide. TrainNet(TM), Gilat's comprehensive broadband IDL solutions allow corporations, banks, government agencies and academic institutions to create and conduct live as well as offline instructor-led or self-paced sessions utilizing personal computers, regular telephone sets, internet connections and any broadband communication channel. Gilat's recently acquired Allen Communication which has been providing advanced courseware development services and technology based authoring and design tools for almost 20 years while developing a customer base which includes more than 60% of the Fortune 500. Gilat also recently acquired LearnLinc Corporation, the world pioneer in live, collaborate Web-based training. LearnLinc's interactive e-learning systems are used by hundreds of corporations and organizations around the world. Uniting Gilat Communications Inc., Allen Communications and LearnLinc, Gilat Communications has established Mentergy, Inc., an e-learning company which addresses the growing industry demand for a company to help organizations make a cost-effective shift from traditional learning, to a blended approach, which includes technology-based training solutions or e-learning. John Bryce Training, Gilat's IT training and content company, is the largest provider of IT training services in Israel and is authorized by, among other vendors, Microsoft, Novell, CA, Sun and Oracle. Founded in 1990, Gilat Communications also provides a wide range of satellite-based communications services, including IP, private data, and voice communications networks and digital video broadcasting over IP multicast.

www.gilat.net

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