SES ASTRA wins contract from Arqiva

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Transponder deal with transmission service company for UK and Ireland market

SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), has announced today that it has signed a fourth transponder contract with the UK transmission service company Arqiva. The capacity subcontracted by SES ASTRA at the orbital position 28.2°/ 28.5° East will be used by Arqiva to help meet the demand from the rapidly growing number of UK channels launching on the Sky platform.

Arqiva provides a comprehensive range of end-to-end media solutions for content and channel providers and is a highly respected supplier of quality satellite solutions for the UK Direct-to-Home (DTH) market.

“With this new contract, we further strengthen our position in the UK and Ireland DTH satellite market”, said Alexander Oudendijk, Chief Commercial Officer of SES ASTRA. "We are delighted that a company with such a distinguished pedigree as Arqiva has again chosen to source their satellite capacity via SES ASTRA.”

"The new agreement with SES ASTRA allows us to further improve our offer and expand our business in this important and growing sector”, added Nick Thompson, Arqiva's Managing Director for satellite media solutions. “We are pleased that we are able to strengthen our relationship with SES ASTRA by concluding another agreement with our partner of choice”.

About Arqiva

Arqiva has a 50-year history in transmission and has helped pioneer the technologies of the digital age. The company has five operating divisions:

* Satellite Media Solutions - provides high quality and flexible solutions to a diverse range of international customers. Includes permanent and occasional broadcast services as well as IP, voice, data and digital media networks. Operational bases in London, Gerrards Cross, Winchester, Feltham and Bedford.

* Terrestrial Media Solutions - provides national transmission for UK commercial television including ITV, Channel 4, Five and associated digital multiplexes, playing a leading role in the run-up to digital switchover. Transmission services also provided to vast majority of UK independent radio stations, both analogue and digital.

* Mobile Media Solutions - new division dedicated to the delivery of content to handheld devices. Recent technology developments open up new service concepts and revenue streams for broadcasters, content providers and mobile operators alike. Arqiva is platform-neutral and has mounted pioneering technical and commercial trials with partners such as Microsoft, O2 and Nokia.

* Wireless Solutions - provides market-leading, multi-operator infrastructure systems and services to wireless telecoms, transport and interior public space businesses. This is done through a portfolio of over 2400 towers, masts and managed sites, plus InBuilding (indoor coverage) and CityCell (urban coverage) products.

* Public Safety - provides frontline communications for the UK emergency services, government agencies and commercial organisations including design and installation, system maintenance and fully managed services for mobile radio, telecommunications and mobile data solutions. Additional info an www.arqiva.com.

Source: SES ASTRA