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BellSouth Signs Agreement With SES AMERICOM For IPTV Trial; Satellite-Based Content Distribution System, IP-PRIME, to Be Tested

Posted on: Thursday, 5 January 2006, 15:00 CST

SES AMERICOM, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges: SESG), announced today that BellSouth (NYSE: BLS) has signed an agreement to trial IP-PRIME(TM), a centralized, satellite-centric video distribution solution that enables telcos to bundle and distribute hundreds of standard and HD television programming channels with voice and broadband services.

SES AMERICOM will provide BellSouth with video aggregation, encoding, monitoring, and transport over the IP-PRIME platform, which is based at the SES AMERICOM IPTV Broadcast Center in Vernon Valley, New Jersey. The IPTV solution will be delivered over the AMC-9 satellite. The open architecture of IP-PRIME enables plug-and-play integration with a broad range of infrastructure platforms, including Microsoft IPTV middleware and conditional access systems, which are being tested by BellSouth.

BellSouth initiated a technical trial of IPTV technology in conjunction with Microsoft earlier this year and plans to expand it to market trial participants using the additional MPEG4 encoded programming channels delivered by IP-Prime.

"SES AMERICOM enables us to make additional content available to BellSouth's IPTV trial participants as we continue our analysis of this technology," said Don Granger, president of BellSouth Entertainment.

"We look forward to working with BellSouth as it further tests IPTV through this trial. SES AMERICOM's IP-PRIME has been designed to serve all segments of the burgeoning telco TV market," said Bryan McGuirk, president of Media Solutions for SES AMERICOM.

About BellSouth Corporation

BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. BellSouth has joint control and 40 percent ownership of Cingular Wireless, the nation's largest wireless voice and data provider with 52.3 million customers.

Backed by award-winning customer service, BellSouth offers the most comprehensive and innovative package of voice and data services available in the market. Through BellSouth Answers(R), residential and small business customers can bundle their local and long distance service with dial-up and high-speed DSL Internet access, satellite television and Cingular(R) Wireless service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth also offers print and online directory advertising through The Real Yellow Pages(R) from BellSouth(R) and YELLOWPAGES.COM(TM)

BellSouth believes that diversity and fostering an inclusive environment are critical in maintaining a competitive advantage in today's global marketplace. More information about BellSouth can be found at http://www.bellsouth.com.

About SES AMERICOM

The largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM is recognized as a pioneer of global satellite communications services. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the launch of its first satellite, the company today operates a fleet of 18 spacecraft in orbital positions predominantly providing service throughout the Americas. As a member of the SES GLOBAL family, SES AMERICOM is able to provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to any region of the world via a fleet of 40 satellites. In addition, AMERICOM Government Services, a wholly owned subsidiary, is dedicated to providing satellite-based communications solutions to both civilian and defense agencies of the U.S. government. With its combined operations, SES AMERICOM serves broadcasters, cable programmers, aeronautical and maritime communications integrators, Internet service providers, mobile communications networks, government agencies, educational institutions, carriers and secure global data networks with efficient communication and content distribution solutions.

Source: Business Wire

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