News Room

For immediate release

GE-5 Launch Successful

PRINCETON, NJ, November 12, 1998 GE American Communications, Inc. (GE Americom), a subsidiary of GE Capital, announced today the successful launch of its GE-5 satellite on October 28 from Kourou, French Guiana. The launch of GE-5 marked the 16^th consecutive success for the GE Americom launch program, which dates back to 1979.

The all Ku-band 16 transponder satellite will be located at 79° W.L. and provide coverage to the continental U.S. and southern Canada. Each 55-watt transponder features 54 MHz of bandwidth capacity to allow customers to simultaneously carry two analog signals or a combination of analog and digital channels. The 54 MHz bandwidth is also ideal for accommodating most broadband data applications.

When operational in early December, GE-5 will serve the SNG, occasional services, VSAT, business television and broadband Internet market segments. To insure transponder availability during peak demand periods, a dedicated pool of occasional transponders will be made available to news customers. CBS Newspath has already signed-on for service along with Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. a global provider of VSAT equipment and services.

With over 20 years of experience, GE Americom is known as a pioneer in satellite distribution of television entertainment programming. One of the worlds largest satellite operators, GE Americom currently operates twelve satellites providing satellite-based solutions for North America. In Europe, GE-1E provides high-powered Ku-band service for European and Middle East television markets. In South America, GE Americom is an owner of NahuelSAt, the Argentinean satellite operator. With the launch of its Asia - Pacific satellite GE-1A next year, GE Americoms satellite interests will reach nearly 90% of the worlds population. Some of GE Americoms key global customers include Viacom, Time Warner/Turner, Discovery, NBC, NHK, Disney, Deutsche Welle, Merlin and NTL.

GE Capital, with assets of over US$250 billion, is a global, diversified financial services company with 28 specialized businesses. A wholly-owned subsidiary of General Electric Company, GE Capital, based in Stamford, CT., provides equipment management mid-market and specialized financing, specialty insurance and a variety of consumer services, such as car leasing, home mortgages and credit cards, to businesses and individuals around the world. GE is a diversified manufacturing, technology and services company with operations worldwide.

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