TCS Awarded $5 Million Contract to Support Department of Defense

SwiftLink Systems Provide Interoperable Communications for Army, Navy and Air Force Units

TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS), a leading provider of mission-critical wireless communications, today announced that it has received a $5 million contract from the Department of Defense (DoD) for SwiftLink systems. The contract is in effect through June 2009.

"We are encouraged by the confidence that DoD has shown in TCS and the opportunity to support military communications interoperability initiatives," said Mike Bristol, Senior Vice President for TCS Government Solutions Group. "TCS received this contract based on our proven track record of integrating and delivering networking equipment to meet DoD's current and future critical communications and interoperability requirements."

The TCS Government Solutions Group began as a systems integrator in 1987. Today, TCS provides engineering, management, and professional services to the public sector and is a leading provider of fixed and deployable communication solutions for government customers and mobile operators requiring high reliability and security, including the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Unified Combatant Commands, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service, and various U.S. intelligence agencies.

About TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS)

TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) (NASDAQ: TSYS) engineers and delivers highly reliable wireless communications technology. TCS is a leader in wireless text messaging and location-based technology, including E9-1-1 services and commercial applications like navigation that use the precise location of a wireless device, and secure satellite-based communications systems and services. Customers include leading wireless and VoIP carriers around the world, cable MSOs, automotive telematics vendors, and agencies of the U.S. Departments of Defense, State, and Homeland Security. TCS is one of six primary vendors on a $5 billion Army Worldwide Satellite Systems Contract vehicle. For more information, visit www.telecomsys.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and are based upon TCS' current expectations and assumptions that if incorrect would cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Risks include without limitation those detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.

Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances, or otherwise.