Satellite Providers' News Опции

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Eutelsat Powers up a new orbital position to drive expansion in high growth markets

Paris 28 July 2011 www.eutelsat.com

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) today announced that it is expanding its commercial response to high-growth video, data, telecom and broadband markets with the opening of business at the 3° East orbital position. To support further long-term expansion, Eutelsat has selected Astrium to build a tri-band satellite, which will increase and diversify its resources for markets in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and South America. Called Eutelsat 3B, the satellite will operate in C, Ku and Ka-bands and be launched in early 2014.

In advance of Eutelsat 3B, resources on a satellite now called Eutelsat 3A were deployed this month to 3° East. This capacity is able to deliver users powerful coverage of Europe and North Africa for services that include GSM backhaul, data networks, IP backbone connectivity and maritime applications.

To complement Eutelsat’s capacity portfolio and geographic reach, the Eutelsat 3B satellite will add resources in three frequency bands connected to fixed and steerable antennas for maximum flexibility. With a single platform assembling Ku, C and Ka transponders, users will be able to select the most relevant frequency band for different types of service. Ku and C-band capacity will further consolidate Eutelsat’s response to broadcast and data markets that represent the two most dynamic applications in the Fixed Satellite Services sector. High throughput beams in the Ka-band, that will be individually steerable to regional and national markets and operated with scalable allocation of power and spectrum, will in addition support innovative applications in bandwidth-demanding markets.

Commenting on Eutelsat’s new programme, Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat CEO, said. “By opening a new orbital position for business now with Eutelsat 3A, and securing varied and highly flexible capacity for the future with Eutelsat 3B, we are adding a new layer of diversity to the resources we can provide to multiple markets with long-term growth potential. This is an exciting step forward for Eutelsat. It underscores our commitment to pursuing an active investment strategy in innovative satellite programmes in order to win and retain the confidence of customers operating in differentiated and vibrant markets.”

Up to 51 transponders on Eutelsat 3B will be configured as follows:

• A Ku-band payload of up to 30 transponders will be connected to widebeam footprints over extended Europe and East Africa. A steerable beam will add further flexibility, with coverage possible of South America or African regions. This capacity will address video contribution, corporate networks, data and telecom markets.
• A C-band payload with 12 transponders connected to a pan-African beam will respond to continued high demand for capacity for telecom services.
• A Ka-band payload of nine transponders connected to steerable beams that are in particular expected to cover Africa and South America will meet expanding connectivity requirements for corporate networks and Internet access.

The Eutelsat 3B satellite will be based on the Astrium Eurostar 3000 platform. Weighing 6 tonnes at launch, the satellite will be designed with 15 year life expectancy. The investment required for this programme is included in Eutelsat's capital expenditure outlook for the period July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2014.

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SES Selects Newtec to Deliver Next Generation Ka-band Sat3Play® Technology for ASTRA2Connect

Newtec helps to close the digital divide by supplying the largest satellite broadband network in Europe with next generation Ka-band terminals and hubs

Luxembourg/Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, 10 August 2011 www.ses.com

SES S. A. (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) and the satellite communications technology specialist Newtec today announced that they have signed an agreement to provide Europe's largest satellite broadband network ASTRA2Connect with next generation Ka-band Sat3Play® terminals and related hub infrastructure.

SES is currently delivering Broadband Internet and Voice-over-IP services to over 80,000 private households and small businesses across Europe using Newtec's technology in Ku-band and offering download speeds up to 6 Mbps.

With this new agreement, Newtec will be providing the next generation Ka-band terminals featuring higher download speeds beyond 10 Mbps and Newtec's Point&Play® self-installation capability. Newtec will also enhance existing ASTRA2Connect end user terminals in Ku-band to enable download capabilities of up to 10 Mbps. These terminals are "Ka-Ready" providing an easy and low cost migration path from Ku-band to Ka-band.

The upgrade of existing end user terminals and the next generation Ka-band terminals featuring speeds beyond 10 Mbps are part of SES's strategy to bring its successful ASTRA2Connect service to the next level. Starting in the fourth quarter of 2012, SES will further increase the performance of its ASTRA2Connect service by using additional multiple spot beam Ka-band capacity onboard its ASTRA 2F, 2E and 2G spacecraft to be launched between 2012 and 2014 and located at 28.2 degrees East.

"We now have the capabilities to enhance our existing service offerings to 10Mbps", said Patrick Biewer, Managing Director of ASTRA Broadband Services (ABBS) - SES's broadband subsidiary. "With Ka-band capacity coming online we are investing in future proof technology to support even higher speeds and extended services," he said. "Efficient and reliable technology provides the foundation for this strategy. With our new hardware partnerships now in place, we will strengthen our service offering and help us to further grow our customer base."

Serge Van Herck, CEO of Newtec, is convinced that Newtec's Ka-band Sat3Play terminals and hubs are helping SES to further extend its reach into areas poorly connected by terrestrial means, whilst making its service more competitive. Van Herck said: "The future of consumer broadband services over satellite is Ka-band. This is simply because the total capacity offered by other commercial frequency bands cannot possibly cope with new demands. ASTRA2Connect's download speed and volume has increased over the years and these new Sat3Play Ka-band terminals will enable a further expansion to its offering."

Newtec and SES will be showcasing the Ka-band terminal at the IBC2011 show taking place at Amsterdam RAI between 8 - 13 September. Visit SES at IBC2011, Hall 1 Booth B 51.