Agreement to Greatly Expand Distribution of TECORE's Advanced, Cost-Effective Switching Platform to Emerging Markets
COLUMBIA, Md., and HORSHAM, Pa., February 5, 1999 — TECORE™, a leading supplier of scalable, multi-service switching systems for converging wireless and wireline networks, announced today that it has formed a strategic alliance with AYDIN Communications, a division of AYDIN CORPORATION (NYSE: AYD).

Under the terms of the agreement, AYDIN will distribute TECORE's industry-leading AirCore™ Platform switching system as part of AYDIN's turnkey solution for wireless and wireline networks in its emerging markets. This alliance will greatly expand the distribution of TECORE products in countries where TECORE has not been active previously.

"This alliance makes great sense for both companies," said Jay Salkini, TECORE president and CEO. "By combining our AirCore Platform switching system with AYDIN's turnkey product portfolio and system integration expertise, we will provide wireless and wireline operators in emerging markets with a superior solution."

"We selected TECORE as our switching provider for turnkey solutions because of the AirCore Platform's scalability, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility to support both wireless and wireline applications on the same platform," said Dan Saginario, president of AYDIN. "We also were impressed with TECORE's commitment to continuously advancing its switching technology. This is an excellent fit with our goal of providing the highest quality solutions to our clients."

The AirCore™ Platform is the most advanced and cost-effective multi-service switching system for networks in small-to-medium-size, rural, and emerging markets. The platform offers unmatched scalability (100 to 100,000 subscribers) and an unparalleled set of fully integrated functions and features, including such features as Home and Visitor Location Registers (HLR & VLR), an Authentication Center (AuC), Equipment Identity Registers (EIR), an Operations and Maintenance Center (OMC), and prepaid billing options with real-time debiting. The AirCore Platform supports all major wireless technologies (GSM, CDMA, TDMA, and AMPS), as well as offers tandem switching and wireline services.

AYDIN Communications was formed in 1997 reflecting AYDIN's growing commitment to the commercial communications marketplace. By bringing together several existing business units and expanding their scope under the direction of a new management team, AYDIN Communications leverages 40 years of AYDIN Corporation's experience providing reliable solutions throughout the world. Its products and services include consulting, network design, installation, project management, and operation of networks that use a variety of technologies such as; satellite, wireline/wireless local loop, Microwave radio and fiber optics. The Company is focused on helping new market entrants develop the most technologically advanced, and cost-effective networks possible to support increasing user demand for voice, data, and video services.

AYDIN CORPORATION is a world-class provider of products and systems for the acquisition and distribution of information over electronic communications media. The Company designs, engineers, markets, distributes and installs technologically advanced communications products and systems, from basic components to turnkey systems for commercial and government organizations around the world. For more information about AYDIN, visit http://www.aydin.com.

Founded in 1991 and based in Columbia, Md., TECORE develops and markets scalable multi-service switching systems for the converging wireless and wireline networks. The privately held company has the first and only switching platform on the market that can simultaneously support multiple wireless protocols AND wireline applications to give its customers unique competitive advantages in the new age of converging services. The company supplies advanced, cost-effective switching systems to carriers in small-to-medium-size, rural, and emerging markets directly and through system integrators and OEM partners. Its innovative AirCore® Platform supports all major wireless technologies (including GSM, TDMA, CDMA and AMPS for cellular and PCS operators), provides an integrated prepaid package, and offers tandem switching and wireline services for IXCs and CLECs.