Tags: Europe, Middle East, Paris, Russia, SatGate, satgate.net, SES, SES ASTRA, SES SIRIUS

Internet connectivity from ASTRA 5A at 31.5 degrees East

SES ASTRA, an SES company (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG), today announced that, via its Nordic affiliate SES SIRIUS, it has contracted four transponders on its new orbital position at 31.5 degrees East to the Lithuanian satellite services provider SatGate. SatGate is using the capacity to provide broadband and internet connectivity to households and end customers in Eastern and Central Europe, Russia and its neighbouring countries and the Middle East. Part of the capacity will also be used to serve Internet Service Providers who do not have the necessary infrastructure themselves. SatGate has already contracted two transponders on the Sirius 4 satellite. The company was established in 2001 and has more than 50,000 active customers across the different countries where it offers its services.

SES ASTRA started to commercialise the new orbital position 31.5 degrees East in April, with its satellite ASTRA 5A offering 26 transponders in a first step. The first customers who announced a capacity agreement for two transponders on ASTRA 5A in mid July are the independent German cable operators.

Alexander Oudendijk, Chief Commercial Officer of SES ASTRA, said: “We are very satisfied that after the successful deployment of ASTRA 5A at 31.5 degrees East, we have already been able to contract six transponders at this new orbital position. The demand from customers for ASTRA 5A shows how dynamic the market in Central and Eastern Europe currently is. We expect that this new orbital position serving these markets will further develop rapidly. The broadband services from SatGate will certainly represent a sound base to develop an attractive neighbourhood for additional customers on ASTRA 5A, not only for broadband, but also in combination with Direct-to-Home TV services.”

Vitaliy Malashevskiy, Chief Executive Officer of SatGate, said: “We are pleased to take our relationship with SES to a new stage, based on its competencies and the high quality of service we trust. The agreement for the use of four transponders on ASTRA 5A will enable us to successfully expand our offers into the promising markets in Eastern and Central Europe and the Middle East. We are looking forward to further develop our business and build on our strong relationship with SES.”

About SES ASTRA www.ses-astra.com

SES ASTRA is the leading Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite system in Europe. The satellite fleet currently comprises 14 ASTRA and two SIRIUS satellites. The combined satellite system delivers services to more than 117 million DTH and cable households and transmits a total of 2,295 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 42 High Definition (HD) channels available via its satellites today, ASTRA and SIRIUS represent the most important HDTV broadcasting platform in Europe. The prime orbital positions for ASTRA and SIRIUS are 19.2° East, 28.2° East, 23.5° East, 5° East and 31.5° 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 provides global coverage and connectivity. The company owns 90 percent of SES SIRIUS in Europe, as well as strategic participations in Ciel in Canada and Quetzsat in Mexico. SES provides outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 38 satellites in 25 orbital positions around the globe. Additional information on SES is available at: www.ses.com

For more information on SatGate please see: www.satgate.net.

Contacts

SES ASTRA
Markus Payer
+ 352 710 725 500
markus.payer {at} ses-astra(.)com