SES LIGHTS UP THE LAUNCH PAD TO MEET GROWING GLOBAL DEMAND FOR CONTENT AND CONNECTIVITY

SES outlines key global, North American and government initiatives at Satcon Conference

New York – October 11, 2011 – SES outlined its unprecedented launch initiative aimed at putting a dozen satellites in orbit over a two-and-a-half-year span. The SES-4 and SES-5 satellites are up next on the launch pad, following the successful send off of SES’ Quetzsat-1 satellite less than two weeks ago.

SES-4, set to replace the NSS-7 spacecraft with enhanced coverage for government, VSAT and video solutions over the Americas, Africa and Europe, is scheduled to liftoff later this year from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. SES-5, slated to follow, will enable everything from GSM backhaul to VSAT, maritime and video distribution services over Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

Beyond the SES-5 liftoff, SES will launch six more satellites by early 2014.

“SES is investing in new capacity at a pace the industry has never seen before to meet the ongoing high demand for quality content and connectivity around the world,” noted Ferdinand Kayser, Chief Commercial Officer for SES, during a press briefing on the eve of Satcon. “We’re lighting up the launch pad to deliver everything from DTH services, including HDTV and 3DTV, to broadband, maritime and government services across the Americas and emerging markets that represent exciting new growth.”

Scott Sprague, SES’ Senior Vice President of Global Sales, said, “The newly consolidated divisions of SES have formed one global operator with one growing, global fleet committed to being one with our customers in every region. Every SES satellite is designed, built and launched with the needs of our customers in mind every step of the way.”

Kayser outlined the strengths of the new SES, including an enhanced level of streamlined decision making and simplified operations. “SES is well positioned to leverage our global mindshare and knowledge base to better serve our customers in established and emerging markets,” explained Kayser, who detailed SES’ many leadership qualities and milestones. SES delivers nearly 6,000 TV and radio channels globally and operates the leading HD platform, distributing nearly 1200 HD channels.

“SES reaches more than 245 million cable, DTH and IPTV homes around the world,” Kayser said. “We are a leading DTH satellite operator, carrying 43 DTH platforms over a growing fleet of 49 satellites.”

Sprague noted that SES reaches about 70 million DTH, cable and IPTV homes across North America. He pointed to the new capacity deal with Turner Broadcasting System as a prime example of how SES is enabling leading networks and programmers to build and extend their reach into new markets around the world.

“SES just signed new capacity agreements with Turner on four SES satellites, enabling Turner to deliver both SNG and entertainment to homes across North America and in key regions across the globe,” Sprague outlined.

Tip Osterthaler, President and CEO of SES Government Solutions, noted that 90% of U.S. government satellite requirements are now met with commercial satellite capacity. He also outlined a new initiative with the U.S. Air Force. “The launch of the SES-2 satellite in September has initiated the innovative Air Force CHIRP (Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload) program, an experimental mission testing new technology for GEO orbit,” said Osterthaler. “It’s the first government payload hosted by SES.”

SES also provided details for upcoming satellite launches beyond the SES-5 launch slated for next year.

ASTRA-2F is expected to go up in late 2012. Like three other ASTRA satellites scheduled for launch from French Guyana over the next two years, ASTRA-2F will enable the delivery of next generation broadcast, VSAT and broadband solutions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

SES-6 and SES-8 are scheduled to launch in early 2013. SES-6 will replace NSS-806 to provide more capacity throughout Latin America for DTH, VSAT, government inclusion programs, and channel growth for one of the region’s key cable neighborhoods. SES-8 will be co-located with NSS-6 to deliver new capacity to the Asia-Pacific region for DTH, VSAT and government services.

The busy launch calendar has ASTRA-2E and ASTRA 5-B satellites set to roar into space in the spring or early summer of 2013. ASTRA-2E will enable advanced broadcast, VSAT and broadband in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, while ASTRA 5-B will add capacity and reach over and beyond Eastern Europe for DTH, direct-to-cable and contribution feeds.

ASTRA-2G is scheduled to launch in early 2014, with Ku- and Ka-band payloads delivering broadcast, broadband and VSAT network services to Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

About SES
SES is a world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of 49 geostationary satellites. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide.
SES stands for long-lasting business relationships, high-quality service and excellence in the broadcasting industry. The culturally diverse regional teams of SES are located around the globe and work closely with customers to meet their specific satellite bandwidth and service requirements.
SES (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) holds participations in Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico, as well as a strategic participation in satellite infrastructure start-up O3b Networks. Further information under: www.ses.com.

Markus Payer
Market Communication & PR
6815 Betzdorf, Luxemburg
Tel. +352 710 725 500
Markus.Payer@ses.com
http://www.ses.com

This release was published on openPR.