Paris, March 17, 2006 – Alcatel Alenia Space today announced that it will deliver the high-powered Ciel-2 telecommunication satellite to Ciel Satellite of Canada, the newest member of the SES family. The new spacecraft, expected to launch by late 2008, will be the largest Spacebus class satellite ever built by Alcatel Alenia Space.
Based on Alcatel Alenia Space Spacebus 4000 C4, Ciel-2 will be fitted with 32 Ku-band frequencies, configured into regional and spot beams maximizing the frequency reuse up to nine times. At the beginning of its operational life, the spacecraft’s payload power will be 10.8 kW and will be positioned at 129°W. Ciel-2 is due to start delivering services into North America in the later part of 2008, with a life time of 16 years.
Kevin Smyth, CEO Ciel Satellite, said: “As a world-class satellite manufacturer, Alcatel Alenia Space, is a great choice for the construction of Ciel’s first permanent spacecraft. In collaboration with our technical and investor partner, SES AMERICOM, we have every confidence that Ciel-2, our first purpose-built satellite, will be a high-performing, reliable spacecraft.”
Pascale Sourisse, President and CEO of Alcatel Alenia Space, said: “This contract further strengthens the solid relationship between our company and the SES family of companies. This was a very competitive and rigorous procurement, so we are pleased to have earned this opportunity to build a satellite for Canada’s Ciel Satellite.”
Ciel 2 is the 5th Spacebus satellite ordered by SES; four are currently operating in the AMERICOM fleet – AMC-5, AMC-9, AMC-12 and AMC-23.
About Alcatel Alenia Space
Alcatel Alenia Space is the European leader in satellite systems, at the forefront of orbit infrastructures. Created in July 2005, the company brings together the vast experience and know-how of Alcatel Space and Alenia Spazio to form a new leading force in European space technology. Alcatel Alenia Space represents a worldwide standard for space development that impacts everybody’s future: from navigation to telecommunications, from meteorology to environmental monitoring, from defense to science and observation. Alcatel Alenia Space is an Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) (67%) and Finmeccanica (Milan:SIFI.MI, FNC.IM) (33%) company.
About Alcatel
Alcatel providescommunications solutions to telecommunication carriers, Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and video applications to their customers or employees. Alcatel brings its leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband world. With sales of EURO 13.1 billion and 58,000 employees in 2005, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.
About Ciel Satellite
Ciel Satellite LP is Canada’s independent satellite facilities operator. Ciel was founded in 2004, received its first licence later that same year and began commercial operations in BSS spectrum from 129 degrees West in August 2005. The partners and shareholders in the Ciel venture are: BPC Telecommunications Corporation, an OMERS corporation, one of Canada’s largest pension funds, with more than USD 36 billion in assets; Ottawa-based Smyth Satellite Holdings Ltd., a Canadian satellite and telecommunications company established by Kevin Smyth and Gerry Wall, Ph.D.; 620582 NB Ltd., an investment company led by Brian Neill, the founder and former chairman of Star Choice Communications Inc.; and SES GLOBAL S.A. (Euronext Paris, and Luxembourg stock exchanges: SESG) which owns SES ASTRA in Europe, and SES AMERICOM in the US, and holds strategic investments in AsiaSat in Asia, Ciel in Canada, NSAB in Europe, and Star One in Latin America.
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