Published by: World Tibet Network News, Tuesday, February 20, 1996

- Telephony Network on the ``Roof of the World'' Connects Five Remote Cities in Tibet -

SAN DIEGO, CA., Feb. 20 (Canada News Wire) -- ComStream Corporation today announced that Comstream Canada has bewen awarded a $3.8 million contract to provide an internal communication network to the Post and Telecommunication Administration of Tibet (PTAT).

The project will interconnect five cities - Lhasa, LinZhi, ChangDu, NaQu and Ali - using INTELSAT's Intermediate Data Rate (IDR) service. The network will provide high capacity digital voice and data communication services to a region where telecommunications is virtually non-existent.

Mr. Li, Director of PTAT's Planning Division stated, ``ComStream has a long history in Tibet because the first earth station in Lhasa was purchased from ComStream in 1984 and has always performed very reliably. In 1993 ComStream upgraded it to an IDR station.''

Mr. Li added, ``China's Ministry of Communication (MOC) has a ComStream satellite earth station at Lhasa, as well, which is part of the MOC TDMA network - considered the world's largest TDMA/DAMA network, while China's National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) operates a ComStream earth station at NaQu.

The success of these implementations prompted PTAT to continue its partnership with ComStream. There is a huge potential for satellite communications in Tibet, and we are looking forward to developing more projects in the future with ComStream.''

Tibet has unique religious, political and logistical issues that pose challenges when addressing business and communication requirements. Remote, mountainous locations which have little or no infrastructure support can be reached only by days of driving in ruggedized vehicles. Equipment must operate in severe weather conditions where temperatures approach minus 60 degrees Celsius, and personnel involved in the implementation face many physical challenges. In some regions within Tibet, personnel may be required to carry their own oxygen supply, due to the altitudes of these sites, where the air contains only 50% of normal oxygen levels.

According to Mr. Salvatore Benti, ComStream's Vice President of Worldwide Sales, ``We will literally climb mountains to implement our systems anywhere in the world, even under such harsh conditions. Our dedication to support the China market, evolving from almost 25 years of experience installing and commissioning turnkey Intelsat earth stations, TDMA/DAMA networks, SCPC earth stations and broadcast networks throughout China, is unparalleled. The company maintains a Customer Service Center in-country to support ComStream's vast range of satellite communications products and systems, operating throughout this large nation.

The project is funded by the Export Development Corporation (EDC), an export credit agency of the government of Canada. EDC financed the project to assist Tibet in developing its communications infrastructure which is vital for Tibet's economic growth.

Recognized as one of the world's foremost suppliers of INTELSAT standard earth stations, ComStream has provided turnkey installations throughout Asia, Latin America, Europe, Africa and North America. To meet specific requirements, the company designs, integrates, tests and installs systems using multiple antennas and technologies for IDR, FDM/FM, IBS, TDMA and SCPC services.

The company has also supplied major Domestic Satellite (DOMSAT) networks, including the world's largest domestic satellite network of its kind for the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications in China. In Europe and the Middle East, ComStream's regional systems carry voice, data, facsimile and video traffic via the EUTELSAT and ARABSAT systems.

ComStream, a major international provider of digital networks for voice, data, audio, imaging and video applications -- with offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Indonesia, The People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom -- is a wholly owned subsidiary of Spar Aerospace Limited.

Spar is a leading Canadian advanced technology company. Building on the technologies of its aerospace business, it now embraces the complementary high growth international communications and software markets. Spar operations are located in North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim, with a majority of revenues derived outside Canada. It is listed on the Toronto and

Montreal stock exchanges. Stock symbol: SPZ.

For further information: ComStream: Leila Tardif,(619) 458-1800; Townsend Agency: Jane Leonard, (619) 457-4888