Washington, DC, March 23, 2005 – SES GLOBAL (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges: SESG), announced today that a new spacecraft will be added to the fleet of SES AMERICOM in 2006 to be known as AMERICOM-18 (AMC-18). The geosynchronous satellite will be operated by SES AMERICOM from 105 degrees West to deliver cable programming throughout the United States. 

Lockheed Martin Commercial Satellite Systems (LMCSS) will build the A2100 spacecraft based on the ground spare initially developed in support of the AMC-10 and AMC-11 satellites which were launched in 2004. Arianespace has been contracted to launch the satellite in the second half of 2006. The C-band spectrum at 105 degrees West was secured through a recent agreement with New Skies. 

“The plan to launch the AMC-18 satellite is a reflection of the success of our HD-PRIME neighborhood on AMC-10 and 11 and underscores our commitment to the growth of HDTV program services in the U.S.,” said Bryan McGuirk, Senior Vice President, SES AMERICOM North American Media Services.

“AMC-18 will be the 14th A2100 spacecraft in the SES fleet, and we are delighted to be awarded this contract to build the next-generation satellite to be operated by SES AMERICOM for cable delivery ,” said Ted Gavrilis, President and CEO, LMCSS.

Jean-Yves Le Gall, President and CEO of Arianespace, stated: “It is with great pleasure that we welcome SES back to Ariane for the AMC-18 mission. Over the past two decades, Arianespace has successfully launched 23 satellites for this prestigious operator.”

AMC-18 will carry twenty-four 36 MHz C-band transponders and will be used to provide cable television services to the 50 United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. AMC-18 is expected to provide more than 15 years of design life. The satellite will expand SES AMERICOM's fleet of satellites, which provide distribution of cable, broadcast television and radio, telecommunications services, business television and broadband data throughout the Americas and transoceanic regions.

For further information please contact:

Yves Feltes 
SES GLOBAL 
Tel. +352 710 725 311 
[email protected] 

Monica Morgan
SES AMERICOM
Tel. +1-609-987-4143

About SES GLOBAL
SES GLOBAL (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) wholly owns two market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, and SES AMERICOM in the US. The Company also holds strategic participations in AsiaSat in Asia, Star One and Nahuelsat in Latin America, and NSAB in Europe. Americom Government Services provides network solutions and bandwidth to the US government and its contractors. SES GLOBAL can provide outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 38 satellites across the globe. In addition, SES GLOBAL is a shareholder in ORBCOMM, a provider of wireless data communications services through a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, and in satellite technology company ND Satcom. SES GLOBAL is also a founding shareholder in SATLYNX, a Luxembourg-based venture, which has created an unrivalled portfolio of reliable and cost-efficient two-way satellite broadband service solutions to enterprises/corporates, small office/home office (SOHO) and local communities all over Europe. Additional info on SES GLOBAL at: www.ses-global.com