MCLEAN, Va., May 5, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spacenet Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd.(Nasdaq:GILT) and one of the world's leading providers of satellite networking solutions, announced today that its high-performance Connexstar satellite communications services have been deployed as part of an incident response vehicle for Erie Insurance. By utilizing a specialized first response vehicle with custom integration of satellite services, Erie Insurance can bring their mobile claims center virtually anywhere their customers would require.
Spacenet has been expanding its presence in the transportable communications market in support of emergency networks and currently offers similar solutions to a number of enterprise and government organizations including H-E-B, the Missouri Department of Transportation and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety. In addition, Spacenet offers a wide range of advanced deployable satellite solutions including its ION instant communications kit, services for the Cisco iComm instant and mobile communications system, and system design and development services for vehicle integrated mobile communications solutions.
"Our mobile claims vehicle, utilizing Spacenet's satellite services, provides us with technology and service to support reliable and rapidly deployable communications," said Erie Insurance Senior Vice President and Division Officer of Claims Matt Myers. "It ultimately helps us respond more efficiently to our customers' needs in crisis or emergency situations."
Erie Insurance requires reliable and flexible communications services for its mobile insurance claim centers to support customers in the aftermath of emergency situations or catastrophes. The solution utilizes Spacenet's part-time Connexstar Performance series for transportable satellite services to support Voice over IP (VoIP) and high-speed data. In addition, Erie is using the Cisco VSAT Network Module to enable seamless satellite integration into its existing Cisco ISR and Access routers. Spacenet is the industry's only Cisco certified and integrated satellite networking solution provider for the Cisco VSAT Network Module.
"The transportable satellite communications network provides Erie Insurance with an easy to deploy, versatile, and reliable solution that supports their critical applications for mobile insurance claim centers," said Spacenet Communications Director Jon Douglas. "This is a great application of our service, and we are looking forward to working with Erie Insurance and other customers that can benefit from dependable, mobile communications solutions."
About Erie Insurance
According to A.M. Best Company, Erie Insurance Group, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the 16th largest automobile insurer in the United States based on direct premiums written and the 21st largest property/casualty insurer in the United States based on total lines net premium written. The Group, rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company, has over four million policies in force and operates in 11 states and the District of Columbia. Erie Insurance Group ranked 488 on the FORTUNE 500. To learn more, visit www.erieinsurance.com.
About Spacenet(r)
Founded in 1981, Spacenet Inc. is one of the world's leading providers of high-performance satellite and hybrid terrestrial networking solutions for U.S. based enterprise, government and small office/small business customers. Spacenet has a longstanding tradition of industry leadership and innovation, and today has more than 100,000 operational network endpoints for customers including many Fortune 500 companies and major government agencies. Spacenet's services include its custom satellite and hybrid network solutions for enterprise and government; Connexstar(tm) VSAT services for primary, backup and disaster recovery networks; and StarBand(r) broadband Internet by satellite. Spacenet is based in McLean, Virginia, and operates its own end-to-end services infrastructure including network management, field services and teleport facilities in McLean, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; and Chicago, Illinois. Spacenet is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq:GILT). Visit Spacenet at www.spacenet.com.
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