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.
