John Connelly, GE Americom's Chairman and CEO said, "The A2100 has proven be one of the highest performing spacecraft in the industry; we are proud of our contribution to its development and our close relationship with Lockheed." He continued, "When GE-4 goes into its full operational mode next month, Americom will achieve three important goals - to extend our services into South America, to deliver expanded capacity for the very successful Cable2 neighborhood, and to offer a higher-powered Ku-band service for broadband and Internet applications."

"Having the pleasure of working with a blue-chip customer like GE Americom is extremely gratifying, especially having just successfully launched the fourth satellite in the series for the customer," said Peter Kujawski, President of Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems. "I look forward to the successive launches of more satellites with our partner GE Americom."

Initial contact with the satellite, called acquisition of signal, was achieved at 3:54 PM PST from the Lockheed Martin satellite tracking station in Guam. The GE-4 satellite is planned to begin service in late December, following in-orbit checkout operations.

GE-4, a hybrid C-/Ku-band satellite, will serve North and South America from its orbital location at 101 degrees West. The satellite will supplement the coverage of GE-1, GE-2 and GE-3, which provide distribution of cable, broadcast television and radio, business television and broadband data distribution across the United States and the Caribbean.

The first A2100s, GE-1, GE-2 and GE-3 were built for GE Americom. Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems is currently building another four satellites, GE-6, GE-7, GE-8 and GE-9, which will be used to serve the expanding needs of GE Americom's customers. In addition, the GE-1A satellite is being built for Americom Asia-Pacific, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and GE Americom.

With over 20 years' experience, GE American Communications, Inc., a subsidiary of GE Capital, is recognized as a pioneer and a leading provider of global satellite communications solutions. On consummation of the recently announced acquisition of Columbia Communications and integration of Columbia's transoceanic satellite capacity into GE Americom's global fleet, GE Americom will be able to provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to any region in the world.

GE Americom currently operates twelve satellites providing services to North America. In addition, GE-1E provides service for European and Middle Eastern markets. With the late 1999 launch of GE-4 and through NahuelSAt, an Argentine satellite operator, GE Americom provides satellite-based communications services throughout South and Latin America.

With the launch of GE-1A, scheduled for first quarter 2000, GE Americom will be able to deliver services into China, India and the large population centers of Northeast Asia.

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Satellite Launch To Boost DTH In India
Calcutta, India (SPX) Dec 28, 2005
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