Empresas y finanzas

Satellite Broadband Service ASTRA2CONNECT Expands to France and Italy



    SES ASTRA, an SES company (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG), has signed
    further contracts to roll-out its satellite broadband service
    ASTRA2Connect also in France and Italy. Only nine months after the
    product launch in April 2007, SES ASTRA has now closed distribution
    agreements in seven European countries. The future revenue secured by
    these contracts amounts to EUR 165 million with more than 200,000
    consumer terminals to be installed in total within three to five
    years. SES ASTRA had already signed contracts for ASTRA2Connect in
    Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland and Poland. Additional
    contracts in several other European countries are under negotiation.

    In France, the product will be distributed to consumers under the
    brand "Viveole" by the communications service provider Auvea
    Ingenierie, an engineering and network installation specialist based
    in Toulouse. In Italy, the product will be marketed to consumers by
    the broadband service provider Digitaria, an affiliate of the network
    and satellite service providers Netdish and Eurosatellite.

    Based on this success, SES ASTRA has also started the large-scale
    production of ASTRA2Connect consumer terminals through a new
    production agreement with the Belgian communication equipment supplier
    Newtec. The consumer terminals produced by Newtec have recently been
    awarded the prestigious Frost & Sullivan European Product Innovation
    Award.

    ASTRA2Connect is a fully satellite-based solution for broadband
    access that delivers dual- and triple-play services via wholesalers
    and internet service providers to the residential market. The
    innovative infrastructure offers a very reliable, always-on, two-way
    broadband internet access for flat service fees. The customer premises
    equipment - a modem and a satellite dish - is low cost and delivered
    with a tool for easy self-installations. ASTRA2Connect offers a unique
    possibility for households in regions without terrestrial broadband
    connection to access broadband services such as high-speed internet
    and IP telephony (VoIP).

    The total addressable market for the satellite broadband product
    in Europe is estimated at five to ten percent of all European
    households. SES ASTRA is addressing this market via its current
    satellites at the 23.5 degrees East orbital position thereby providing
    pan-European coverage for ASTRA2Connect. The satellites at 23.5
    degrees East will be further enhanced by satellite assets under
    procurement.

    "The launch of ASTRA2Connect in France and Italy and the start of
    the large scale production of ASTRA2Connect terminals are important
    steps in the successful roll-out of our innovative satellite broadband
    product," said Alexander Oudendijk, Chief Commercial Officer of SES
    ASTRA. "Fully leveraging our first mover advantage, we are using
    existing satellite capacity to bring a highly competitive product to
    the market with terminals that are available at low costs and easy to
    install. The contracted revenues and the committed number of terminals
    emphasize the successful introduction of ASTRA2Connect and its market
    potential. We are proud to have reached this remarkable result only
    nine months after the launch of the service. The access to high
    volumes of ASTRA2Connect terminals and our satellite procurement plans
    will support the further expansion of ASTRA2Connect across various
    European markets."

    About SES ASTRA www.ses-astra.com

    SES ASTRA is the leading Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite system in
    Europe, delivering services to more than 109 million DTH and cable
    households. The ASTRA satellite fleet currently comprises 13
    satellites, transmitting 1,864 analogue and digital television and
    radio channels. SES ASTRA also provides satellite-based multimedia,
    internet and telecommunication services to enterprises, governments
    and their agencies. With 29 High Definition (HD) channels available
    via its satellites today, ASTRA is also the most important HDTV
    broadcasting platform in Europe. ASTRA´s prime orbital positions are
    19.2 degrees East, 28.2 degrees East, and 23.5 degrees East.

    SES ASTRA is an SES company (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG). SES owns
    three market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, SES
    AMERICOM in North America, and SES NEW SKIES, which provide global
    coverage and connectivity. The Company also holds strategic
    participations in SES Sirius in Europe, Ciel in Canada and Quetzsat in
    Mexico. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions
    via a fleet of 37 satellites in 25 orbital positions around the globe.
    Additional information on SES is available at: www.ses.com.