Eutelsat Awards Contract to Deliver HOT BIRD(TM) 10 Broadcast Satellite to Astrium

Eutelsat Awards Contract to Deliver HOT BIRD(TM) 10 Broadcast Satellite to Astrium

PARIS, October 19/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) today announced that
Astrium will build the HOT BIRD(TM) 10 broadcast satellite which will be
launched in first quarter 2009 and positioned at the Group's 13 degrees East
location. Following HOT BIRD(TM) 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(TM) 10 underpins Eutelsat's objectives to
continue to renew capacity at its HOT BIRD(TM) 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(TM) 8 satellite, which went into full commercial service this month, and
HOT BIRD(TM) 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(TM) 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(TM) 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(TM) 10 (formerly HOT
BIRD(TM) 3) which is scheduled to enter into service at 10 degrees East later
this month, having completed its mission at 13 degrees East. EUROBIRD(TM)
10's replacement by HOT BIRD(TM) 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(TM) 10 will further
consolidate our premium HOT BIRD(TM) 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(TM) 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(TM) 10 is a Eurostar E3000 satellite,
identical to HOT BIRD(TM) 8 and HOT BIRD(TM) 9 with the same mission
capacity. HOT BIRD(TM) 10 is also the third satellite ordered by Eutelsat
from Astrium this year, following W2M in February and HOT BIRD(TM) 9 in May,
and the seventh communications satellite contract overall won by Astrium in
2006."

HOT BIRD(TM) 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 commercialised 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 inflight 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

Frederique 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

About 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 EUR2.7 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 EUR34.2 billion and employed a
workforce of more than 113,000.

Contacts for the media:

Remi Roland
EADS SPACE (FR)
+33-(0)-1-42-24-27-34
remi.roland@eads.net

Jeremy Close
EADS SPACE (UK)
+44-(0)1438-77-38-72
jeremy.close@astrium.eads.net

Source: Eutelsat Communications

For further information - Press Relations: Vanessa O'Connor , Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88, voconnor@eutelsat.fr; Frederique 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; Contacts for the media: Remi Roland , EADS SPACE (FR) , +33-(0)-1-42-24-27-34, remi.roland@eads.net; Jeremy Close, EADS SPACE (UK) , +44-(0)1438-77-38-72, jeremy.close@astrium.eads.net

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