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Eutelsat and Es'hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company Select Arianespace to Launch the EUTELSAT 25B / Es'hail 1 Satellite
[March 12, 2012]

Eutelsat and Es'hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company Select Arianespace to Launch the EUTELSAT 25B / Es'hail 1 Satellite


WASHINGTON DC, March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) and Es'hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company, have selected Arianespace to launch their EUTELSAT 25B[1] / Es'hail 1 satellite in the second quarter of 2013 on board an Ariane 5 launcher. The announcement was made today at the Satellite 2012 show in Washington DC.



The contract signed with Arianespace to deliver EUTELSAT 25B / Es'hail 1 into orbit marks a further step forward in Eutelsat and Es'hailSat's joint programme to operate a high-performance satellite at 25.5° East, a longstanding orbital position serving expanding markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. The new satellite will provide superior coverage and power to follow on from Eutelsat's EUTELSAT 25A[2] satellite. In addition to securing Ku-band continuity for Eutelsat and Ku-band resources for Es'hailSat, it will initiate a Ka-band capability to open business opportunities for both parties. The satellite, weighing over six tonnes, is under construction by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L).

Commenting on the selection of Arianespace, Eutelsat CEO, Michel de Rosen, said: "Together with our partner, Es'hailSat, we are delighted to entrust the launch of our satellite to Arianespace that has delivered Eutelsat with reliability, flexibility and on-time performance over almost 30 years. This mission for 2013 is a new marker in a solid and longstanding relationship, enabling Eutelsat to pursue our objective to renew and expand the resources and quality of service we provide our customers." Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari, Es'hailSat CEO, said: "We are delighted that, together with Eutelsat, we have been able to select Arianespace to launch our first satellite. Es'hail 1 is just the start of our mission to provide high quality, independent satellite services to meet Qatar's national stakeholder's interests and serve customers throughout the Middle East and North Africa".


Jean-Yves Le Gall, Arianespace Chairman and CEO said: "We thank Eutelsat for entrusting Arianespace with this new launch and are particularly proud of a privileged relationship over almost 30 years with one of the world's leading satellite operators and to sign a 26th contract. Our appreciation also goes to Es'HailSat for selecting Arianespace for their first launch. We are delighted to serve a new operator in this region of the world." About Arianespace Arianespace is the world's leading launch service & solutions company, providing innovation to its customers since 1980. Backed by 21 shareholders and the European Space Agency, Arianespace offers an international workforce renowned for a culture of commitment and excellence. As of 1st March 2012, Arianespace had performed 204 Ariane launches (298 payloads), 26 Soyuz launches (24 at Baikonur with Starsem and 2 at the Guiana Space Center) and the first launch of Vega. It has a backlog of 23 Ariane 5, 15 Soyuz and 2 Vega launches, equal to more than three years of business. http://www.arianespace.com About Eutelsat Communications Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 28 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. As of 31 December 2011, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting more than 4,000 television channels. They 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 access to high speed internet services through teleports in France and Italy that serve 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 700 commercial, technical and operational professionals from 30 countries.

http://www.eutelsat.com 1. ex EUROBIRD 2A 2. ex EUROBIRD 2 SOURCE Eutelsat Communications and Es'hailSat

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