Globalstar selects Infonet to manage global network; $15 million-plus, five-year contract for public data network announced.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 4, 1997--Infonet Services Corp. Tuesday announced that its affiliate, Government Systems Inc., has signed a five-year, $15 million contract to provide a wide area network (WAN) for Globalstar, a consortium of international telecommunication companies.

The company, formed in 1991 as a limited partnership, was founded by Loral Space & Communications Ltd. of New York City and QUALCOMM Inc. of San Diego. Globalstar's strategic partners also include AirTouch Communications, Dacom/Hyundai, France Telecom/Alcatel, Daimler-Benz, Vodafone, Alenia Spazio, Elsag Bailey and FINMECCANICA.

The WAN, called the Globalstar Data Network or GDN, is the central component of a command and control infrastructure that will tie in Globalstar's worldwide system of gateways with the Globalstar Control Centers in San Jose and El Dorado Hills, Calif.

The GDN will be used to support two primary goals: 1) coordinating and administering the Ground Operations Control Centers, responsible for planning and controlling satellite utilization by gateway terminals and for coordinating this with the Satellite Operation Control Centers, and 2) supporting all mission-critical activities relating to satellite launch, in-orbit testing and ongoing command and control of the Globalstar satellite constellation.

Providing communications to and from anywhere on Earth

Over the course of 1997 and 1998, 56 Globalstar satellites, part of a complete system costing $2.5 billion, will be placed into a low- Earth orbit. A global network of ground stations will allow people in areas that are currently underserved by existing wireline and cellular telecommunications systems, to make and receive calls from virtually anywhere on Earth. Globalstar will also provide data transmission, paging, facsimile and position location services to travelers worldwide through cellular to satellite handsets.

Projects of this magnitude have not been previously accomplished by commercial organizations. To achieve its mission, Globalstar needed a worldwide network that would maintain timely communications, control operations and monitor gateways.

"Because a large part of the service will be deployed in developing and underdeveloped countries, we wanted a partner with experience on a global scale -- one who could support and maintain our worldwide, dedicated network," stated John Cunningham, manager of public relations for Globalstar. To achieve its networking goals, Globalstar selected Infonet Services.

Managing gateways in more than 100 locations around the world from San Jose to villages in China to metropolitan cities in Australia, as well as remote areas in Siberia and Africa, is a challenge. Meeting exacting levels of service and providing a worldwide network infrastructure and support were also requirements of the contract.

According to Michele Ritenour, network operations manager for Globalstar: "We like the fact that Infonet has been in the network business for more than 25 years and has nodes already in place in than 50 countries. Infonet's experience has given us a high comfort level."

In a recent ceremony at Globalstar's corporate headquarters, Richard E. Terhorst, president of GSI, remarked, "I am very pleased that GSI has been awarded the Globalstar Data Network contract based on our experience in implementing and managing worldwide communication networks; this award represents a logical extension of GSI's capabilities."

An affiliate of Infonet Services Corp., a worldwide network service provider, Government Systems Inc. was founded in 1990 to provide Infonet's services and system integration services to the U.S. federal government. GSI delivers state-of-the-art communications services and solutions for implementing, operating and managing large-scale network environments and their expansion to global proportions.

These services include providing dedicated private and public networks and services, global network access, installation and maintenance of complex systems, and network management and operations. GSI has headquarters in Chantilly, Va., and offices around the world.

Infonet Services is a world leader in providing reliable, state-of-the-art international communication solutions to global enterprises. Infonet specializes in value-added services and managed networks, which are supported locally in 57 nations. Infonet's World Network is currently accessible in more than 180 countries. The company is jointly owned by a number of the world's leading telecom operators.

CONTACT: Infonet Services Corp., El Segundo

Mike Radice, 310/335-2875