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Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Singapore Government Selects Astrata Group Incorporated for Anti-Terrorism Homeland Security Tracking and Control Contract

Singapore Government Selects Astrata Group Incorporated for Anti-Terrorism Homeland Security Tracking and Control Contract

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Astrata Group Incorporated (BULLETIN BOARD: ATTG) , an international provider of innovative location- based IT services and solutions, announced today that the Singapore Civil Defense Force (the "SCDF") has awarded Astrata (Singapore) Pte Ltd, an exclusive multi-million dollar contract as part of its plan to regulate the movement of all vehicles carrying hazardous materials on Singapore's roads. The contract is for software and hardware integrated into a comprehensive tracking, monitoring, and sophisticated control system with features and capabilities unsurpassed in the market. The contract was signed in December and deliveries are scheduled to begin during the first quarter of 2005.

The Singapore Government recently announced an important development which is intended to enhance the security of its people and the region. They revealed to Singapore's Straits Times, on January 18, 2005, details of a plan for the SCDF to "develop a system to carry out real-time tracking of vehicles carrying dangerous goods." Lianhe Zaobao, a reporter for the Straits Times wrote, "The plan was first revealed [by the] Home Affairs Ministry ... and the National Security Coordination Secretariat. [The report] touched on steps that are being taken to make Singapore even more secure from terrorist threats." The Straits Times report continued, "The Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng said in the addendum that the SCDF will, for one, strengthen its abilities to tackle unconventional chemical and biological threats and 'dirty' bombs."

In response to the demanding and innovative requirements in Singapore, Astrata's Research and Development ("R&D") team for Homeland Security Products developed the Astrata Geo-Spatial Information Technology System (the "GEO-IT System"), the most advanced tracking, monitoring, and control software system available, which combines the Astrata Geo-Location Platform (the "Astrata-GLP" known as "Sirius-Lite" outside the U.S.), the world's smallest and most technologically advanced fleet management and vehicle real-time tracking device. The contract also includes a new state-of-the-art Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), a derivative of the GLP, which can be attached within seconds to vehicles entering Singapore.

Tony Harrison, Chief Executive Officer for the Astrata Group, said, "The Government of Singapore has become a global leader in implementing homeland security regulations to protect their citizens using the latest technology. They are on the forefront of fighting the global terrorist threat to use hazardous materials as weapons. We are very pleased to have been selected by the Government to implement this sophisticated geospatial information technology system to monitor and control the transport of hazardous materials. Astrata's GLP in combination with the GEO-IT System enable the civil defense force to monitor vehicles carrying hazardous materials in real-time, and, if necessary, intervene remotely by retarding the engine, reducing a vehicle's speed, and then immobilizing it while SCDF personnel investigate. One of the other unique features of this system is the ability to monitor vehicles in tunnels, urban canyons, and underground parking structures. These capabilities set a new benchmark for security conscious nations around the world with similar concerns for public safety."

This sophisticated system is made possible and affordable by the innovative design and the unique capabilities of the Astrata-GLP, the GPS location and GSM wireless communications device. The GLP combines a GPS receiver, a GSM cell phone, and a sophisticated computer operating system integrated into a single package approximately 50% the size of a modern mobile phone, making it easy to conceal, even in covert installations. The device integrates a GSM/GPRS module, which is permanently active and not dependent on a vehicle's ignition, and can receive commands at any time over the air. The GLP achieves unprecedented low-power consumption through the use of advanced power management algorithms. With built-in wireless communications options including quad-band GSM or CDMA, GPRS, SMS, circuit switched data (CSD), Bluetooth, and wireless LAN, the Astrata-GLP can monitor and control fleets of virtually any equipment, vehicles, assets, shipping containers, or even individuals, using real-time information and Astrata's GEO-IT system.

Sandy Borthwick, Managing Director for Astrata's Asia Pacific Region, commented, "Astrata's GEO-IT System will ensure that vehicles carrying hazardous materials adhere to one of the Government approved routes in and around the city. These routes are specifically designed to avoid highly populated areas, power plants, reservoirs, and sensitive buildings. The Astrata GEO-IT System has the ability to remotely immobilize vehicles if they stray from these permitted paths, thus deterring terrorists from hijacking such carriers to use as explosive fuel-bombs. This contract validates our design approach to incorporate a full onboard computer operating system, which can be programmed over the air for sophisticated customized applications. The GLP is ideally suited for this application and we believe it will become the standard in the Asia Pacific region."

About Astrata Group Incorporated

Astrata Group Incorporated (BULLETIN BOARD: ATTG) is focused on advanced location-based IT services and solutions (GEO-IT) that combine GPS positioning, wireless communications (satellite or terrestrial) and geographical information technology, which together enable businesses and institutions to monitor, trace, or control the movement and status of machinery, vehicles, personnel or other assets. Astrata has designed, developed, manufactured and currently supports seven generations of GEO-IT systems with over 80,000 units deployed worldwide.

Sales are divided between two divisions: telematics (remote asset management solutions) and geomatics (high-end professional GPS systems with accuracies approaching three millimeters). Astrata has approximately 200 permanent employees and employs nearly 100 people in its R&D and manufacturing divisions. For further information about the company and its products, please send an email to info@astratagroup.com or visit the Web site at http://www.astratagroup.com/.

About Astrata (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

Astrata (Singapore) Pte Ltd was incorporated on October 6, 2003, and is a Joint Venture Company owned 51% by Astrata (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd and 49% by PCS Security Pte Ltd. PCS Security Pte Ltd is one of Singapore's premier security consultancy companies, the management of which have served distinguished careers in the senior ranks of security and intelligence organizations in the Government.

Certain statements in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be identified by the use words such as "anticipate, "believe," "expect," "future," "may," "will," "would," "should," "plan," "projected," "intend," and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Astrata Group Incorporated (the "Company") to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company's future operating results are dependent upon many factors, including but not limited to: (i) the Company's ability to obtain sufficient capital or a strategic business arrangement to fund its current operational or expansion plans; (ii) the Company's ability to build the management and human resources and infrastructure necessary to support the anticipated growth of its business; (iii) competitive factors and developments beyond the Company's control; and (iv) other risk factors discussed in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available for review at http://www.sec.gov/ under "Search for Company Filings."

Consulting For Strategic Growth I, Ltd. ("CFSG") provides the Company with consulting, business advisory, investor relations, public relations and corporate development services. Independent of CFSG's receipt of cash compensation from the Company, CFSG may choose to purchase the common stock of the Company and thereafter liquidate those securities at any time it deems appropriate to do so.

CONTACTS:
Stanley Wunderlich, CEO
Consulting for Strategic Growth
Tel: 800-625-2236
Fax: 212-697-0910
E-mail: CFSG1@aol.com


Source: Astrata Group Incorporated

CONTACT: Stanley Wunderlich, CEO, Consulting for Strategic Growth
1-800-625-2236, or Fax: 212-697-0910, CFSG1@aol.com

Web site: http://www.astratagroup.com/


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