Eutelsat to Boost In-Orbit Resource at 10 Degrees East With HOT BIRD(TM) 3 Satellite, Rebranded EUROBIRD(TM) 10

Eutelsat to Boost In-Orbit Resource at 10 Degrees East With HOT BIRD(TM) 3 Satellite, Rebranded EUROBIRD(TM) 10

Dual-Feed Antennas Allow DTH Reception From 10 Degrees East and Eutelsat's Premium HOT BIRD(TM) Neighbourhood at 13 Degrees East

PARIS, October 2/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) announces that
its HOT BIRD(TM) 3 satellite will shortly be redeployed at the 10 degrees
East location. Due to complete its mission at 13 degrees East on entry into
service of HOT BIRD(TM) 8 on October 3, HOT BIRD(TM) 3 is scheduled to
initiate its new mission later this month at 10 degrees East where it will be
rebranded EUROBIRD(TM) 10.

Through this redeployment Eutelsat is significantly boosting
its satellite resource at a strategic orbital position from where it can
serve Europe, the Middle East, Africa and large parts of western central
Asia. Via its W1 satellite at 10 degrees East Eutelsat already provides
professional video and data network services to blue chip clients who include
the EBU (European Broadcasting Union), APTN (Associated Press) and Hughes
Networks Systems. The arrival of EUROBIRD(TM) 10 alongside W1 will increase
capacity for direct broadcast services to satellite homes and for satellite
feeds to digital terrestrial television networks.

Designed for high-power transmission services to consumer and
professional audiences, EUROBIRD(TM) 10 is equipped with 20 Ku band
transponders which offer a high degree of in-orbit flexibility. Each
transponder can be connected to a high-power Superbeam coverage over Europe
or to a Widebeam that also provides full coverage of North Africa and the
Middle East. In addition, the satellite is equipped with a steerable beam to
which eight transponders can be connected for links between Europe and
regions visible from 10 degrees East.

For video markets in particular, this new resource at 10
degrees East will enable Eutelsat to support the development of
high-definition television (HDTV) in Europe and the continued increase in
standard digital channels. Between June 2005 and June 2006, 400 new channels
joined Eutelsat's fleet, including 12 HDTV channels. A further asset is that
EUROBIRD(TM) 10 will benefit from its close proximity to Eutelsat's premium
HOT BIRD(TM) neighbourhood, which broadcasts more than 950 channels, of which
40 per cent of which are free-to-air. The proximity will enable homes to
receive channels from both locations with a single antenna equipped with a
dual feed.

In order to promote these strengths Eutelsat is preparing a
publicity campaign in Italy, one of Europe's most dynamic digital television
markets, for dual-feed satellite kits and components to upgrade existing
installations for reception from 10 degrees and 13 degrees East. This
initiative has already attracted BluTV, a regional Italian TV channel. BluTV
has signed a contract with Eutelsat's affiliate, Skylogic, which is equipped
to provide broadcast services including encoding, multiplexing and uplinking
through its teleport in Turin.

Commenting on the forthcoming entry into service of
EUROBIRD(TM) 10, Giuliano Berretta, CEO of Eutelsat Communications said:
"Redeployment of our EUROBIRD(TM) 10 satellite to 10 degrees East, where it
will provide coverage of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, underpins our
objective to reinforce our orbital positions in order to support the
development of digital television, data and broadband markets in these
regions. As far as our prime activity of video services is concerned, the
arrival of EUROBIRD(TM)10 will provide the necessary resource for our client
broadcasters to benefit from new growth opportunities opening up with HDTV
and MPEG4 compression. Furthermore, in this dynamic, which concerns the range
of channels we deliver and reception equipment in satellite homes, the
synergy provided by the close proximity of 10 and 13 degrees East gives each
position a genuine competitive edge."

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
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

Investors
Gilles Janvier
Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-35
investors@eutelsat-communications.com

Source: Eutelsat Communications

For further information, Press: 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. Investors: Gilles Janvier, Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-35 investors@eutelsat-communications.com

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