Dulles, VA. August 10, 2004 – Encore Networks, a leading developer of secure converged broadband solutions over satellite and terrestrial IP networks, today announced the February 2004 filing of a Patent Application for its Selective Layer Encryption (SLE™) technology with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. SLE™ is an encryption technology for satellite operators, systems integrators and enterprises that are looking to securely connect satellite networks with terrestrial Internet links as part of end-to-end Virtual Private Network (VPN) solutions. Since SLE™ has been shipped and deployed, it has consistently exhibited full throughput capabilities in both satellite and hybrid networks.

Running IPsec based solutions over TCP accelerated satellite connections, as part of a site-to-site VPN solution, imposes an unacceptable throughput limitation on each connection. SLE™, featured in Encore’s complete line of VPN security products, overcomes this performance degradation and allows encryption and VPN capabilities at full link speed, while optimizing the performance of key applications over broadband satellite networks.

“Filing this patent is an important milestone in Encore’s history,” stated Peter Madsen, Encore’s President and CEO. “It serves as an example of our long term commitment to providing innovative and high performance VPN solutions that have been validated and deployed by satellite carriers worldwide.”

The breakthrough architecture of Encore Network’s SLE™ technology fully interoperates with satellite modems from leading vendors and PEP (Performance Enhancing Proxy) providers. Unlike traditional VPN solutions, which are cumbersome and low performing over satellite connections, Encore’s SLE™ supports optimal high-speed connectivity over both TCP and UDP-based applications. This enables satellite carriers and systems integrators to rollout value-added secure broadband services that can compete effectively against alternative broadband technologies.