Paris, 19 October 2006 – Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) today announced that Astrium will build the HOT BIRD™ 10 broadcast satellite which will be launched in first quarter 2009 and positioned at the Group’s 13 degrees East location. Following HOT BIRD™ 8 and 9, it is the third high-power broadcast satellite based on Astrium’s Eurostar E3000 platform that will be located at Eutelsat’s premium video neighbourhood for cable and satellite broadcasting.
The procurement of HOT BIRD™ 10 underpins Eutelsat’s objectives to continue to renew capacity at its HOT BIRD™ neighbourhood, to raise in-orbit redundancy and security for broadcasting clients and to increase overall flexibility across its satellite fleet. Eutelsat’s 13 degrees East neighbourhood today broadcasts 950 television channels and 540 radio stations to 110 million cable and satellite homes across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
Astrium’s Eurostar E3000 platform was selected by Eutelsat for the HOT BIRD™ 8 satellite, which went into full commercial service this month, and HOT BIRD™ 9 which was ordered from Astrium in May this year. With each satellite equipped with 64 high-power Ku-band transponders spanning the entire range of 102 Ku-band frequencies at 13 degrees East, they will together deliver customers exceptional levels of security and in-orbit redundancy for the development of digital entertainment services and HDTV channels.
HOT BIRD™ 10’s deployment in 2009 will also enable Eutelsat to pursue its objective to develop video activities at other orbital locations. The new satellite will release the Group’s HOT BIRD™ 7A satellite from 13 degrees East in order for it to be repositioned at the 10 degrees East neighbourhood. The proximity of these two neighbourhoods enables reception of channels from both positions with a single antenna equipped with a dual feed. This new video mission will be initiated first by EUROBIRD™ 10 (formerly HOT BIRD™ 3) which is scheduled to enter into service at 10 degrees East later this month, having completed its mission at 13 degrees East. EUROBIRD™ 10’s replacement by HOT BIRD™ 7A will further increase capacity for video services in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa by providing up to 38 Ku-band transponders at 10 degrees East.
Commenting on the contract, Eutelsat CEO Giuliano Berretta commented: “By boosting our resource at established and growing video neighbourhoods we are in a privileged position to benefit from the strong dynamic of broadcasting markets in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. HOT BIRD™ 10 will further consolidate our premium HOT BIRD™ position and will also expand the associated resource we can offer broadcasters from 10 degrees East for standard digital television, High-Definition Television and new video services using MPEG4 compression. We are also very pleased to renew our confidence with Astrium who has demonstrated the performance of its technology in our new HOT BIRD™ 8 satellite.”
Antoine Bouvier, CEO of Astrium Satellites’ business unit said: “We are extremely pleased that Eutelsat confirms their confidence in our technology by ordering a third Eurostar E3000 to perfect the core of their prime broadcasting neighbourhood. HOT BIRD™ 10 is a Eurostar E3000 satellite, identical to HOT BIRD™ 8 and HOT BIRD™ 9 with the same mission capacity. HOT BIRD™ 10 is also the third satellite ordered by Eutelsat from Astrium this year, following W2M in February and HOT BIRD™ 9 in May, and the seventh communications satellite contract overall won by Astrium in 2006.”
HOT BIRD™ 10 is the 15th satellite commissioned by Eutelsat from Astrium. With the early implementation of this programme the Group is advancing in-orbit investments to FY2007- 2009 which were originally forecast after FY2010.
About Eutelsat Communications
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A. The Group is a leading satellite operator with capacity commercialized on 23 satellites providing coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas. The Group is one of the world’s three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues. Its satellites are used for broadcasting more than 2,100 TV and 970 radio stations to more than 120 million cable and satellite homes. The Group also provides TV contribution services, corporate networks, mobile positioning and communications, Internet backbone connectivity and broadband access for terrestrial, maritime and in flight applications. Eutelsat Communications is headquartered in Paris, and the Group’s workforce comprises over 490 employees from 27 countries. www.eutelsat.com
For further information
Press Relations
Vanessa O’Connor Tel: + 33 1 53 98 38 88 voconnor@eutelsat.fr
Frédérique Gautier Tel: + 33 1 53 98 38 88 fgautier@eutelsat.fr
Investor Relations
Gilles Janvier Tel: +33 1 53 98 35 35 investors@eutelsat-communications.com
ASTRIUM
Astrium Satellites, a business unit of Astrium, is Europe’s leading satellite system specialist. Its activities cover complete civil and military telecommunications and Earth observation systems, science and navigation programmes, and all spacecraft avionics and equipment.
Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems. In 2005, Astrium had a turnover of €2.7 billion and 11,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2005, EADS generated revenues of €34.2 billion and employed a workforce of more than 113,000.
Press contacts:
Rémi Roland, EADS SPACE +33 (0) 1 42 24 27 34
Frédéric-Pierre Isoz, EADS SPACE +33 (0) 1 42 24 28 77
Jeremy Close, EADS SPACE (UK) +44 (0) 1438 77 38 72
