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Astrium Acquires Capacity on Eutelsat's New W2A Satellite

Posted on: Thursday, 18 June 2009, 04:47 CDT

Astrium and Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) today announced at the Paris Airshow the signature of a five-year contract for 36MHz of capacity on the new W2A satellite. Astrium Services will provide coverage for their existing and future customers across Africa.

Eutelsat's new W2A satellite entered commercial service in May 2009 to provide Ku-band capacity across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and central Asia, and C-band capacity extending from South America across Africa and Europe as far as the Indian sub-continent. Astrium Services, through its Toulouse-based subsidiary London Satellite Exchange plans to use its capacity to complement the commercial communication services it currently supplies to Africa.

Use of the new capacity will be coordinated through Astrium Services' teleport in Toulouse. The teleport, which was opened last year, provides customers with an additional means of satellite communication for telephony services, notably VPN (Virtual Private Network) secure networks.

Eric Beranger, CEO of Astrium Services said: "The capacity on Eutelsat's new W2A satellite will enable Astrium Services to provide its customers with even more comprehensive coverage across Africa. This investment underlines Astrium Services' commitment to continue to provide its customers with a one-stop-shop for all their satellite communication needs. Creating reliable and resilient communication networks is essential, as this infrastructure is vital in supporting the African entrepreneurs of the future."

Olivier Millies-Lacroix, Eutelsat Commercial Director responded "We look forward to expanding our close collaboration with Astrium Services through this new contract for C-band capacity serving Africa and are delighted that the power and coverage provided by W2A fits their exacting requirements".

About Astrium

Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems and services. In 2008, Astrium had a turnover of EUR4.3 billion and more than 15,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment and Astrium Services for the development and delivery of satellite services.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2008, EADS generated revenues of EUR43.3 billion and employed a workforce of more than 118, 000.

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 27 satellites that provide coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues. At 31 December 2008, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting 3,200 television channels and 1,100 radio stations. More than 1,100 channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(TM) video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East which serves over 120 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Group's satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates services through teleports in France and Italy that serve enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ 591 commercial, technical and operational experts from 28 countries.

SOURCE Eutelsat Communications

Source: PR Newswire

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