|
SES GLOBAL INCREASES INTERNATIONAL FOCUS WITH WORLDSAT New Operator Announces Major Customer and WORLDSAT-3 Satellite January 15, 2004 Tokyo, Japan and Princeton, NJ, USA At a press conference in Tokyo today, SES AMERICOM, an SES GLOBAL Company, (SESG: Luxembourg and Frankfurt Exchanges), formally announced the formation of WORLDSAT, LLC and a long term agreement to provide services to Connexion by Boeing on WORLDSAT-3, a satellite featuring a customized Ku-band payload designed to address the unique requirements of broadband communications for the transpacific traveler. The satellite is being manufactured by Alcatel Space of France and will be launched by the end of 2005. Operating from 172 degrees East, the satellite will offer high-quality service to Japanese clients and others in the Pacific Ocean and Asian regions. WORLDSAT was created in 2003 by SES GLOBAL, the world’s largest satellite company, as a subsidiary of SES AMERICOM, the New Jersey-based operating company and the largest and highest quality supplier of satellite services in the United States. WORLDSAT provides customers with applications as diverse as mobile communications, broadcasting, internet connections, and data networks, added value with unparalleled connections to the premier regional satellite fleets including SES AMERICOM and SES ASTRA in Europe and Middle East and Africa. The newly-formed business unit has satellites currently operating at 108.2 degrees East (WORLDSAT-1, formerly AAP-1), 172 degrees East (Spacenet-4, 174.3 degrees West (TDRS-5), 47 degrees West (TDRS-6), and 37.5 degrees West (Satcom-C1 ). WORLDSAT President Andreas Georghiou also announced details of the hybrid C/Ku-band satellite WORLDSAT-3, formerly AMC-13. The Ku-band payload features 20 high-powered, 138 watt, channels, uniquely arranged to cover all major airline corridors over the Pacific. The C-band payload features 18 high-powered, 80 watt, channels permitting reception by sub-2m antennas. The satellite’s planned coverage … from Alaska to New Zealand … and from California to Malaysia … and unparalleled levels of redundancy on major spacecraft subsystems … make it significantly superior to any other satellite in the region. “Connexion by Boeing, a subsidiary of the Boeing Company, and their airline customers are changing the long-distance travel experience paradigm … we are pleased that our satellite design and operations expertise will significantly contribute to that important paradigm shift, “ said Andreas Georghiou, President of WORLDSAT. He continued “As the demand for global connectivity by Connexion by Boeing and other customers continues to grow, WORLDSAT offers seamless, highly reliable communication links reaching every important market for broadcasters, ISPs, private data networks, telecommunications companies and mobile and fixed broadband services providers. These most recent developments are a continuation of relationships built on more than a decade of relationships between AMERICOM and JSAT, NHK and SCC.” In preparation for potential business opportunities in Japan by WORLDSAT, SES AMERICOM, the new company’s parent, obtained a Class 1 Telecommunications Business License from the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications (MPHPT), and has established itself as a licensed operator of an earth station located in Yamaguchi, Japan. Dean Olmstead, President and CEO of SES AMERICOM, said, “We are privileged and honored to join the highest ranks of telecommunications providers here in Japan. We have plans to be an active participant in the Japanese telecommunications industry through our newly-formed WORLDSAT business, supporting both Japanese and U.S.-based customers with connectivity and bandwidth services.” About SES AMERICOM The largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM, Inc. is recognized for the delivery of the highest quality satellite communications services. Established in 1973 with its first satellite circuit for the U.S. Armed Forces, the company also pioneered the distribution of programming via satellite for cable with the 1975 ground-breaking distribution of the ‘Thrilla in Manilla. The company currently operates a fleet of 11 spacecraft in orbital positions providing service throughout the Americas. As a member of the SES GLOBAL family, AMERICOM is able to provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to any region in the world. SES AMERICOM’s key customers include ABC Radio Networks, AT&T Alascom, Deutsche Welle, Discovery, EchoStar, Fox, Gemstar/TV Guide, Gannett, HBO, Hughes Network Systems, NBC, The New York Times, NHK, PaxNet, PBS, TELE Greenland, TimeWarner, Viacom and, through AMERICOM Government Services, various agencies of the U.S. government. www.ses-americom.com About WORLDSAT WORLDSAT creates seamless solutions for mobile communications, international broadcasters, secure data networks, government agencies, value-added resellers and telecoms worldwide by interconnecting the world’s premier satellite systems and covering all major regions. C-band capacity is available across the Atlantic Ocean Region (37.5° West on Satcom-C1, 47° West on TDRS-6), as well as the Pacific Ocean Region (174.3° West on TDRS-5, 172° East onSpacenet-4), and Ku-band is available in Asia (108.2° East on WORLDSAT-1, formerly AAP-1). Two satellites for transoceanic services, WORLDSAT-2 (formerly AMC-12) and WORLDSAT-3 (formerly AMC-13) are currently under construction and are scheduled for launch in Q3 2004 and Q4 2005, respectively. A new business unit of SES GLOBAL, WORLDSAT’s key customers include Antrix Corporation Ltd., Globecomm Systems, JSAT, Korea Telecom, MCI, PCCW, Space Communications Corporation, Teleport Access Services, Unitel Hellas and a number of U.S. government agencies, through AMERICOM Government Services. www.worldsat.net # # # |