The Contract to Provide Broadband Internet Connectivity to
    Over 1,600 Schools is Valued at Approximately $18.5 Million

PETAH TIKVA, Israel, Dec. 20, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gilat Satellite
Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq:GILT), a worldwide leader in satellite networking
technology, solutions and services, today announced that it has been
awarded a new contract by the Colombian Ministry of Information
Technology and Telecommunication (MINTIC) to provide broadband Internet
connectivity to over 1,600 schools throughout the country's rural
regions. Valued at approximately $18.5 million, the project is hosted
by the Ministry's Social Telecommunications Program ("Compartel") and
the Ministry's "Fondo de Tecnologías de la Información y
las Communicaciones", and is scheduled to commence in 2012, concluding
by mid 2013.

Gilat's SkyEdge II solution, featuring the Company's innovative
WebEnhance VSAT, will provide broadband connectivity featuring data
rates of up to 2 Mbps. The network is expected to connect 1,676 schools
located in five separate districts across rural Colombia, and is part
of a national bid for over 6,800 schools awarded to seven operators.
The program is part of the Colombian government's ongoing efforts to
reduce the communication gap in Colombia, and further investment in
improved access to advance communications services in schools.

"Thanks to these awards more than 6,800 rural schools in the country
will have access to the Internet with twice or four times the speeds
they enjoyed before. More than 1,130,000 children and adolescents will
have the same opportunities as urban students to use information
technologies in their schools," said Diego Molano Vega, Minister of IT
and communications.

"Gilat has been at the forefront of delivering communication services
in Colombia for over a decade, and we are proud to be able to continue
this important work and be a valid contributor to improving the lives
of children across rural areas," said Amiram Levinberg, Gilat's CEO and
Chairman of the Board.

About Gilat

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. is a leading provider of products and
professional services for satellite-based broadband communications
networks worldwide. Gilat was founded in 1987 and has shipped over one
million Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) to more than 85 countries
across six continents. Gilat's headquarters is located in Petah Tikva,
Israel. The Company has 22 sales and service offices worldwide. Gilat
develops and markets an expansive range of broadband satellite
solutions including high-performance VSATs under the SkyEdge(TM) and
SkyEdge II brands, low-profile antennas for satcom-on-the-move, under
the RaySat Antenna Systems and the StealthRay(TM) brands and next
generation solid-state power amplifiers for mission-critical defense
and broadcast satellite communications systems under the Wavestream
brand. Gilat's wholly-owned subsidiary, Spacenet Inc., is a leading
provider of managed services in North America to the business and
government segments. Visit Gilat at www.gilat.com.

The Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5848

Certain statements made herein that are not historical are
forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. The words "estimate", "project", "intend",
"expect", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve
known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the
actual results, performance or achievements of Gilat to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements that may
be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including,
among others, changes in general economic and business conditions,
inability to maintain market acceptance to Gilat's products, inability
to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and
applications, rapid changes in the market for Gilat's products, loss of
market share and pressure on prices resulting from competition,
introduction of competing products by other companies, inability to
manage growth and expansion, loss of key OEM partners, inability to
attract and retain qualified personnel, inability to protect the
Company's proprietary technology and risks associated with Gilat's
international operations and its location in Israel. For additional
information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties
associated with Gilat's business, reference is made to Gilat's reports
filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


CONTACT: Gilat media contact:
         Karen Mazor
         karenm@gilat.com