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GE Americom launches into 2001
New Satellites, Added Transoceanic Capacity Dictate Aggressive Growth Strategy

Entering the new millennium with a literal "bang," GE Americom concluded a very full year 2000 with the successful December 19 launch of GE-8, an advanced C-band satellite. The launch - an unprecedented fourth in as many months (see box below) - continued Americom's aggressive global expansion initiative and provided a platform for next-generation satellite services. Some of these satellites provided high-powered replacements to existing spacecraft, where as others were launched to target new markets, such as GE-1A, which serves the Asia-Pacific region.

In addition to this series of new spacecraft launches, GE Americom also boosted its global coverage through several strategic partnerships and mergers. Most notably, the acquisition of Columbia Communications Corporation has added transoceanic capacity by connecting Americom's satellites to deliver service in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Interim capacity is currently being provided through three former Columbia satellites, as well as through GE Spacenet 4, which has moved into a fourth orbital slot, 172° E.L.

The interim spacecraft, which carry television, data, Internet and telephony services among the African, Asian, European, North and South American continents, will eventually be replaced by four new Alcatel Space satellites. The new transoceanic satellites - collectively known as GEi for its international footprint - will begin to come online during the first quarter of 2003.

"The closing with Columbia marks another milestone in our growth as a premier provider of worldwide satellite services," remarked John F. Connelly, GE Americom's chairman and CEO. "Americom and Alcatel are constructing state-of-the-art spacecraft for future operations in the Columbia orbital positions. We are committed to providing the highest quality of service that Americom customers have come to expect, whether we are supporting them in one region or globally."

GE Americom's capacity expansion over the Atlantic will support Internet backbone access and other services, in addition to the growth and connectivity requirements of its large media customers. Service will focus on traffic between North America and South America, Europe and South America, North America and Africa, and Europe and Africa. The expansion over the Pacific will serve the growing demand for US-based programming throughout the Pacific Rim and the need to transport Internet content into, within and out of the region.

"The expansion of the former Columbia satellites into a new high-capacity fleet of AOR and POR satellites will enable connectivity of the Americas with Europe, Africa and most of eastern Asia," noted Richard Langhans, vice president, customer support, GE Americom. "This AOR and POR connectivity complements GE Americom's existing regional satellite coverage of North America, South American, eastern and western Europe, as well as our latest Asian regional satellite covering all of eastern Asia and India."

The 515, TDRS-6 and TDRS-5 satellites already have a solid base of trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific customers, respectively, providing a quick-start, technically sound solution. GE Spacenet 4 offers additional station-kept capacity between the Asia-Pacific region and the U.S. West coast - one-hop connectivity only available through a limited number of orbital locations.

"These spacecraft are essentially the bridges connecting our well-established domestic fleet and our newer international platforms," added Cynthia Dickins, vice president, international sales development, GE Americom. "With Asia, North and South America, and Europe now linked by SN-4 and TDRS-5 in the Pacific and 515 and TDRS-6 in the Atlantic, we can offer customers a dependable plug-and-play operation well before the replacement GEi satellites are delivered. The cost-effective interim capacity goes a long way in helping our customers establish momentum, as well."

GE Americom featured live Webcasts of three of the four launches held in late-2000 - GE-8, GE-6 and GE-1A - giving thousands of viewers worldwide real-time access to the milestone events. All three launches are currently archived and can be viewed on-demand at https://geamericom.com/satellite/launches.html. Here's a brief description of the most recent additions to Americom's global satellite fleet:

GE-8 (Launched December 19, 2000)

GE-8, which replaces Americom's Satcom C-5 spacecraft in the 139° W. L. orbital position, was launched by Arianespace from Kourou, French Guiana. Extending an 18-year business relationship with Americom, AT&T Alascom has purchased a large portion of the GE-8 communications payload to carry its interstate and intrastate telephony, voice and digital services for customers in Alaska. The A2100-series satellite, which will also be known as Aurora III, will be operational by March 2001. GE-8 will provide 50-state, Canadian and Caribbean coverage via twenty-four transponders with 20-watt SSPAs and 16-for-12 redundancy. The Lockheed Martin-manufactured satellite will succeed C-5 as the home of America's premier neighborhood for the distribution of radio network programming, in addition to providing carriage for data and private networks. The satellite will meet the regional and national distribution requirements of cable television programmers, in addition to housing Alascom's telecommunications services. Please follow this link for more information on GE-8.

GE-6 (Launched October 23, 2000)

GE-6, a hybrid C-band and Ku-band satellite, is located at 72° W.L., providing next-generation services to North America and the Caribbean. The spacecraft's twenty-four 36 MHz, C-band transponders feature 20-watt SSPAs; the twenty-four 36 MHz and four 72 MHz Ku-band transponders feature 110-watt TWTAs. GE-6 is an A2100AX spacecraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin - the sixth A2100 in the Americom fleet. Please follow this link for additional information on GE-6.

GE-1A (Launched October 2, 2000)

The launch of GE-1A marked the operational beginning of Americom Asia-Pacific, the joint venture of GE Americom and Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications. GE-1A, a powerful Ku-band satellite, is located at 108.2° E.L. and provides service via three beams to greater China, south Asia including India, northeast Asia and the Philippines. The A2100-series spacecraft features 28 active 36 MHz Ku-band transponders with 120-watt TWTAs. GE-1A will deliver Internet applications, VSAT, data and telecommunications services, cable and broadcast programming. Please follow this link for more information on GE-1A.

GE-7 (Launched September 14, 2000)

Located at 137° W.L., the C-band GE-7 provides next-generation service over all 50 states and the Caribbean. The spacecraft's twenty-four 36 MHz C-band transponders feature 20-watt SSPAs. The technical twin brother of GE-8, GE-7 is a Lockheed Martin-manufactured A2100-series spacecraft. GE-7 provides service to regional and national programmers, in-orbit protection for many current cable and radio customers, plus the critical telecommunications services delivered by AT&T Alascom. GE-7 replaces Satcom C-1, which was relocated to 141.5° W.L. to provide protection, as well as occasional video service pending future launches. Please follow this link for more information on GE-7.