(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 23, 2004 ) Madrid -- SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris, Luxemburg and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: SESG), and NEO-SKY, the broadband operator of Iberdrola, have reached an agreement to launch broadband Internet services via satellite. The new internet access, aimed mainly at places in Spain that do not have ADSL coverage, will offer download speeds of between 256 kbps and 768 kbps, and a return channel through the telephone line.

The service will also offer more than 130 digital television channels through the computer, broadcast free-to-air via the ASTRA satellite system at 19.2° East. This means a wide range of programmes in several languages (including Spanish, English, French, German, Italian and Arabic) and on a multitude of topics from news, sport, entertainment and business channels to music and children’s channels. More than 10% of Spanish homes currently receive digital television via ASTRA.

This new offer from ASTRA is complementary to two-way broadband Internet solutions which NEO-SKY has been marketing since 2002 through Satlynx, a company in which SES GLOBAL has a shareholding. Satlynx’ two-way Internet system notably enables small and medium sized companies as well as public administrations to benefit from both upstream and downstream Internet access speeds of up to 2 Mbps.

Satellite is the only system capable of ubiquitously gaping the so-called “digital divide” in Spain, as it enables broadband connections in places with no other access possibilities. The agreement reached by SES ASTRA and NEO-SKY will thus enable isolated areas in Spain to have broadband access to the Internet.

For further information please contact:

Yves Feltes
Press Relations SES ASTRA
Tel 352 710 725 311
Yves.Feltes@ses-astra.com


NEO-SKY
NEO-SKY, the broadband telecommunications operator of Iberdrola, offers Internet, data, voice and video services, together with pay-per-use mode applications and fibre optics for companies, and also local access and transport services for other operators.

The Company has its own extensive network, formed by LMDS broadband digital access (via radio), the 14,000 kilometre fibre optics transport network of Iberdrola –interconnected with the main worldwide networks- and broadband satellite access, that enables coverage from any location in Spain. All this means that NEO-SKY is the operator with the largest wireless access network specialised in broadband, in Spain.
www.neo-sky.com


About SES ASTRA www.ses-astra.com

The ASTRA Satellite System is the leading Direct-to-Home satellite system in Europe, delivering services to more than 94 million Direct-to-Home and cable households. The ASTRA satellite fleet currently comprises 13 satellites, transmitting in excess of 1400 analogue and digital television and radio channels as well as multimedia and Internet services. ASTRA’s two prime orbital positions for DTH (Direct-To-Home) services are 19.2° East and 28.2° East. Professional services such as Direct-to cable (DTC), Satellite Newsgathering (SNG) and Occasional Use are offered from the orbital positions of 23.5° East and 5.2° East.

SES ASTRA is an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris, Luxembourg and Frankfurt stock exchanges: SESG). SES GLOBAL wholly owns two market-leading satellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, and SES AMERICOM in the US. The Company also holds strategic participations in AsiaSat in Asia, Star One and Nahuelsat in Latin America, and NSAB in Europe. Via its WORLDSAT subsidiary it provides unparalleled connections to the premier regional satellite fleets of these SES GLOBAL partners. Americom Government Services provides network solutions and bandwidth to the US government and its contractors. SES GLOBAL can provide outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 40 satellites across the globe. In addition, SES GLOBAL is a shareholder in ORBCOMM, a provider of wireless data communications services through a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, and in satellite technology companies Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. and ND
Satcom. Additional info on SES GLOBAL at: www.ses-global.com

SATLYNX S.A. is a joint venture between three leading Satellite Providers - SES GLOBAL, Gilat and Alcatel Space - who are amongst the most respected satellite companies in the world. With Satlynx's comprehensive services and the longest experience and know-how, Satlynx can be seen as the leading company in the European Satellite Services market. The company offers two-way satellite broadband communication via satellite throughout Europe directly to small and large Enterprises, through 'service partners' such as large Telecommunication operators (France Telecom, Deutsche Telekom), ISPs (Tiscali Europe) and regional partners/system integrators, utilising a range of technologies and satellites. Satlynx is also
responsible for the installation of the remote satellite equipment, the supervision of the Service Operations and all necessary satellite system maintenance. Additionalinfo at : www.satlynx.com

Contact Information:
SES ASTRA
Joseph Nchor
Tel:
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