The first satellite will be launched late next year and the other in early 2001. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"These new orders represent the eighth and ninth Hughes-built spacecraft in the SES fleet, bringing SES' total to 13 satellites," said Tig. H. Krekel, president and chief executive officer of Hughes Space and Communications Co. (HSC).

"SES is one of our largest customers. We view SES' repeat business as an endorsement of the manufacturing improvements under way at HSC, and we are fully committed to meeting SES' requirements."

ASTRA 2D is an HS 376HP (for high-power) satellite, the first spinning-style satellite procured by SES. ASTRA 2C is an HS 601HP body-stabilized type, similar to other ASTRA satellites in orbit. Both will be built at HSC's Integrated Satellite Factory, in El Segundo.

The new satellites will be positioned at 28.2 degrees East longitude, which serves primarily Great Britain and Ireland. SES has eight satellites in its primary orbital slot of 19.2 degrees East, providing television and radio broadcasting as well as multimedia services across most of Europe. ASTRA 2C will have the flexibility to operate at the 19.2-degree slot if needed.

Romain Bausch, director general of SES, stated: "Due to strong market demand for audiovisual and multimedia services in the main European markets, SES for the first time ever ordered two spacecraft at the same time.

"We are confident that the spacecraft commissioned with Hughes Space and Communications will allow us to timely meet the increasing demand for satellite services, while at the same time increasing the flexibility and the unique intersatellite protection of the ASTRA fleet."

ASTRA 2D, the first to be launched, will operate 15 active Ku-band transponders throughout its 12 years in orbit. The ASTRA 2D contract provides for the launch of the satellite on a European Ariane rocket by the end of 2000.

ASTRA 2C will operate 28 active Ku-band transponders (32 for the first five years), and is expected to be in service for more than 15 years. SES plans to use either a Russian Proton rocket or Ariane in early 2001.

HSC is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial communications satellites, having built nearly 40 percent of those in operation. It also is a major supplier of spacecraft and equipment to the U.S. government, and a builder of weather satellites for the United States and Japan.

HSC is a unit of Hughes Electronics Corp. The earnings of Hughes Electronics are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to GMH (NYSE symbol) common stock.

SES is the owner and operator of ASTRA, Europe's leading satellite system for direct-to-home reception, transmitting analog and digital TV and radio services as well as multimedia content to an audience of almost 75 million households in Europe.

SES holds a strategic 34.13 percent participation in AsiaSat, Asia's premier satellite operator, providing broadcast and telecommunications services to 53 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The combined footprints of ASTRA and AsiaSat cover three- quarters of the world's population.

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