CONTACT INFORMATION

MANKAto, MN., February 6, 2001 - HickoryTech (NASDAQ: HTCO), a diversified communications holding company operating in Minnesota and Iowa announced the signing of a contract with SaskTel International for their MARTENS Suite of Operational Support System (OSS) Products and related services. HickoryTech’s Information Solutions division develops state-of-the-art billing and customer care solutions for the telecommunications industry.

SaskTel International is a Regina, Saskatchewan-based, wholly owned subsidiary of SaskTel, providing engineering consulting, project management, and computer hardware and software.

This suite of products is commonly referred to as Plant and Trouble Reporting within the industry and allows service providers to track and manage the physical components of routes, cables and circuits. In addition, it manages the reported telecommunication problems received from subscribers all the way through the initial report to the final resolution of the concern. Service providers can be assured that this software is meeting the criteria demanded by regulatory governing bodies of the telecommunications industry.

Lane Nordquist, HickoryTech’s President of Information Solutions, described the process that led his company to SaskTel International: “With the rapid introduction of new and changing technologies in the telecommunications industry, we recognize the importance of having a best-of-breed plant facilities management system to complement our billing and customer care engine. Our reputation is built on developing and supporting reliable and scalable systems and our research led us to SaskTel International as the company that can provide the vital link to plant and trouble reporting.”

This agreement includes three modules that will provide users with totally automated, flow-through provisioning for all services: DSL, seamless instant service/service-on-demand capabilities via a service activation module, and a repair management product totally integrated with the provisioning process.

About SaskTel International
SaskTel International’s MARTENS Suite is a fully integrated service provisioning, activation and assurance OSS solution for local access providers in all types of markets. “Our MARTENS Suite is a highly functional, user friendly OSS solution that enables companies such as HickoryTech to provide their customers with the highest level of service in today’s competitive telecommunications market,” said Garry Simons, President of SaskTel International.

About HickoryTech Corporation
HickoryTech Corporation (Nasdaq: HTCO) is a diversified communications company headquartered in Mankato, Minnesota with 552 employees and operations in Minnesota and Iowa. HickoryTech is in its 104th year of operation with its roots in the local telephone exchange business. From this base, it has expanded into wireless communications, competitive local service, long distance, Internet, information solutions and enterprise solutions. HickoryTech is a member of the Russell 2000 Index. To learn more about HickoryTech Corporation, visit the company’s Web page at
www.hickorytech.com.

Certain statements included in this press release, which are not historical facts, are ``forward-looking statements.'' Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry in which HickoryTech operates, management's beliefs and assumptions. The forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and probabilities. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. HickoryTech undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements for any reason.

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