Eutelsat Selects Thales Alenia Space to Build the EUTELSAT 8 West B Satellite, Boosting Satellite Broadcasting Resources in the Middle East and North Africa

Eutelsat Selects Thales Alenia Space to Build the EUTELSAT 8 West B Satellite, Boosting Satellite Broadcasting Resources in the Middle East and North Africa

PARIS, October 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --



Satellite broadcasting in the Middle East and North Africa will soon be gaining
powerful new broadcasting resources following the order announced today by Eutelsat
Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) of a new satellite from Thales Alenia Space. Called
EUTELSAT 8 West B, the high-capacity spacecraft will be launched in 2015 to 8degree(s)
West, joining satellites already operated at the adjacent 7degree(s) West position by
Eutelsat and the Egyptian satellite company, Nilesat. Broadcasting services from both
positions are received by satellite TV homes with a single small Direct-to-Home dish.



With a rapidly growing audience and channel line-up, the 7/8degree(s) West video
neighbourhood is one of the most dynamic in the global satellite TV market. Over 30
million homes in North Africa and the Middle East are already equipped for DTH reception
of more than 800 Arabic and international channels broadcast at this position by Eutelsat
and Nilesat. Free-to-air accounts for the majority of the offer (500 channels), while HD
take-up is accelerating, currently representing 50 channels. The additional capacity will
meet further expansion in a satellite broadcasting market where capacity demand for video
services is forecast to grow by 6.8% a year over the coming five years (source
Euroconsult). HDTV channels are expected to increase fourfold over the coming ten years.



The EUTELSAT 8 West B satellite will be equipped with 40 operational Ku-band
transponders designed primarily to serve DTH markets in North Africa and the Middle East.
It will also introduce a C-band mission to 8degree(s) West, with 10 operational
transponders connected to footprints covering the African continent and reaching west to
South America.



To respond to the popularity of the 7/8degree(s) West neighbourhood, Eutelsat will
redeploy an existing high-power Ku-band satellite to 8degree(s) West in 2013. This will
increase resources in advance of the launch of EUTELSAT 8 West B, enabling more
broadcasters to benefit from a prime neighbourhood.



Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat CEO said: "We want to ensure we are giving broadcasters the
finest quality of service and headroom to grow their business. This new satellite
programme will further equip us to deliver the highest quality of service at a video
neighbourhood experiencing record demand for reaching TV homes across the Middle East and
North Africa. We are also pleased to renew our confidence in Thales Alenia Space with this
new order from their most state-of-the-art range of spacecraft."



"We are both pleased and proud to sign this important contract today with Eutelsat,"
said Jean Loic Galle, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space. "Our teams will deploy the
full range of their skills and expertise to construct this new satellite and support our
customer's development. We thank Eutelsat for placing their trust in us. EUTELSAT 8West B
is the 25th satellite built by Thales Alenia Space for Eutelsat, and it will be the 74th
satellite in the Spacebus family to enter service in the global space telecommunications
market."



About Thales Alenia Space
The European leader in satellite systems and a major player in orbital infrastructures,
Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%). Thales
Alenia Space and Telespazio embody the two groups' "Space Alliance". Thales Alenia Space
sets the global standard in solutions for space telecommunications, radar and optical
Earth observation, defense and security, navigation and science. With consolidated
revenues of 2.1 billion euros in 2011, Thales Alenia Space has 7,500 employees in France,
Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium and United States. http://www.thalesaleniaspace.com



About Eutelsat Communications



Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding
company of Eutelsat S.A. With capacity commercialised on 29 satellites that provide
coverage across Europe, as well as the Middle East, Africa and significant parts of Asia
and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators. As of
30 June 2012 Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting more than 4,250 television channels
to over 200 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and 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 high speed Internet services through teleports
in France and Italy that serve consumers, enterprises, local communities, government
agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in
Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ just over 750 commercial, technical and
operational professionals. This culturally diverse staff comprises employees from 30
countries. http://www.eutelsat.com.




Eutelsat Communications & Thales Alenia Space

CONTACT: Press: Vanessa O'Connor, Tel: +33-1-53-98-37-91, voconnor@eutelsat.fr. Frédérique Gautier, Tel: +33-1-53-98-37-91, fgautier@eutelsat.fr. Marie-Sophie Ecuer, Tel: +33-1-53-98-37-91, mecuer@eutelsat.fr. Lisa Finas, Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-30, investors@eutelsat-communications.com. Leonard Wapler, Tel. : +33-1-53-98-31-07, investors@eutelsat-communications.com. Thales Alenia Space Press Contact: Sandrine Bielecki Tel: +33(0)4-92-92-70-94, sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com, Tarik Lahlou Tel: +33(0)4-92-92-68-45, tarik.lahlou@thalesaleniaspace.com.


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