Eutelsat Statement on Launch of W7 Satellite

Eutelsat Statement on Launch of W7 Satellite

PARIS, September 7/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) announces that
it has signed a contract with International Launch Services (ILS) for the
launch in mid-November 2009 of the W7 satellite on an ILS Proton. Built by
Thales Alenia Space, the satellite will now undergo final preparation for
delivery to the Baikonour Cosmodrome.

Originally scheduled for launch by Sea Launch, this selection of Proton
follows the confirmation to Eutelsat by Sea Launch of their unavailability to
orbit W7 within the agreed timeframe. The decision to launch with ILS and
Khrunichev was taken on the basis of their commitment to meeting Eutelsat's
critical timeframe to launch W7 in mid-November, enabling Eutelsat to bring
the satellite into service by the end of 2009. Eutelsat is meanwhile
continuing discussions with Sea Launch with a view to assigning the launch
originally assigned for W7 to a future Eutelsat satellite.

Commenting on this reorganisation, Giuliano Berretta, Eutelsat
Chairman and CEO said: "Timely access to space is an essential component of
Eutelsat's significant satellite expansion programme of nine satellites to
launch between 2008 and 2011, and most particularly in the case of W7. With
the first three of these new satellites already delivered into orbit by
Ariane and the fourth by Proton, Arianespace and ILS have provided us with
flawless service, further consolidating our appreciation of the Ariane 5 and
Proton vehicles. Concerning Sea Launch, we firmly intend to pursue our
discussions with the shared objective of delivering future Eutelsat
spacecraft into orbit."

W7 will be colocated with W4 at 36 degrees East to double
resources at one of Eutelsat's fastest-growing neighbourhoods. Through a
configuration of 70 transponders connected to high-performance fixed and
steerable beams, the new satellite will provide coverage of Russia and
sub-Saharan Africa for digital broadcasting services, including pay-TV, and
add flexibility for growing markets in central Asia. W7 will also assume all
traffic on Eutelsat's 18-transponder SESAT 1 satellite which is currently
positioned at 36 degrees East and which will subsequently continue in
commercial service at an alternative location.

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is
the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 27
satellites that provide coverage over the entire European continent, as well
as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the
Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in
terms of revenues. At 30 June 2009, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting
almost 3,200 television channels and 1,100 radio stations. More than 1,000
channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(tm) video neighbourhood at 13 degrees
East which serves over 123 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the
Middle East and North Africa. The Group's satellites also serve a wide range
of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets,
corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and
for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband
subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates services through teleports in
France and Italy that serve enterprises, local communities, government
agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Since the company's privatisation in 2001 Eutelsat has launched 13 satellites
(9 by Arianespace, 3 by ILS, 1 by Atlas and 1 by Delta). Headquartered in
Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ 610 commercial, technical and
operational employees from 28 countries.

http://www.eutelsat.com

For further information Eutelsat

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: +33-1-53-98-35-30
investors@eutelsat-communications.com

Source: Eutelsat Communications

For further information: Eutelsat 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: +33-1-53-98-35-30, investors@eutelsat-communications.com

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