Dulles, VA. October 20, 2004 – Encore Networks, a leading developer of integrated network security and access products, today announced that VSAT Systems, the satellite Internet service subsidiary of Skycasters LLC, has deployed Encore’s VSR™ VPN product solutions in their Emergency Mobile Communication System in hurricane ravaged Florida. The mobile system includes vehicle-mounted satellite technology that will deliver encrypted broadband access for use by Florida’s Department of Financial Services anywhere the specially equipped van parks.

The Emergency Mobile Communications System carries a 1.2-meter satellite dish for Internet connectivity at 2 Mbps down and 512 Kbps up. The mobile system supports multiple Voice over IP phones and provides highly efficient, end-to-end VPN encryption with the Encore VSR-30™ security appliance. The VSAT Systems vans provide state officials with an alternative to the conventional telephone, cellular, and other communications destroyed by the hurricane. The mobile satellite links allow Florida Financial Services officials to quickly process and release emergency funds to residents who have, in many cases, lost everything in the storm.

“Thanks to VSAT’s emergency mobile system, Florida’s Department of Financial Services is able to send agents to locations where people need immediate assistance the most.” stated Bill Uhlig, Encore Networks Sales Director. “We are proud to be a part of this project as it puts a human face on the benefits of satellite technology.”

Encore Networks offers a suite of secure broadband solutions optimized to work over satellite and hybrid networks. Such product lines include the BANDIT™ and the VSR™ families. Both products are powered by Encore Networks feature-rich ELIOS™ operating systems. Features like IP routing and QoS, stateful inspection Firewall, IP VPNs and Encore’s patent-pending Selective Layer Encryption (SLE) allow satellite carriers to provision high performance IP VPNs on-demand, with the ability to support redundancy and fail-over dynamically via either broadband terrestrial or satellite networks.

“While our VSAT technology can be used as a daily part of large enterprise networks, it is also extremely attractive as an emergency backup system,” stated Richard McKinney of VSAT Systems. “With Encore’s Selective Layer Encryption feature, we can confidently offer our customers fast and secure broadband access over satellite even under the most adverse conditions.”