Eutelsat Statement on Launch of W7 Satellite

PARIS, September 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eutelsat Communications
(Euronext Paris: ETL) announces that it has signed a contract with
International Launch Services (ILS) for the launch in mid-November 2009 of
the W7 satellite on an ILS Proton. Built by Thales Alenia Space, the
satellite will now undergo final preparation for delivery to the Baikonour
Cosmodrome.
Originally scheduled for launch by Sea Launch, this selection of Proton
follows the confirmation to Eutelsat by Sea Launch of their unavailability to
orbit W7 within the agreed timeframe. The decision to launch with ILS and
Khrunichev was taken on the basis of their commitment to meeting Eutelsat's
critical timeframe to launch W7 in mid-November, enabling Eutelsat to bring
the satellite into service by the end of 2009. Eutelsat is meanwhile
continuing discussions with Sea Launch with a view to assigning the launch
originally assigned for W7 to a future Eutelsat satellite.
Commenting on this reorganisation, Giuliano Berretta, Eutelsat Chairman
and CEO said: "Timely access to space is an essential component of Eutelsat's
significant satellite expansion programme of nine satellites to launch
between 2008 and 2011, and most particularly in the case of W7. With the
first three of these new satellites already delivered into orbit by Ariane
and the fourth by Proton, Arianespace and ILS have provided us with flawless
service, further consolidating our appreciation of the Ariane 5 and Proton
vehicles. Concerning Sea Launch, we firmly intend to pursue our discussions
with the shared objective of delivering future Eutelsat spacecraft into
orbit."
W7 will be colocated with W4 at 36 degrees East to double resources at
one of Eutelsat's fastest-growing neighbourhoods. Through a configuration of
70 transponders connected to high-performance fixed and steerable beams, the
new satellite will provide coverage of Russia and sub-Saharan Africa for
digital broadcasting services, including pay-TV, and add flexibility for
growing markets in central Asia. W7 will also assume all traffic on
Eutelsat's 18-transponder SESAT 1 satellite which is currently positioned at
36 degrees East and which will subsequently continue in commercial service at
an alternative location.
About Eutelsat Communications
Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is
the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 27
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. At 30 June 2009, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting
almost 3,200 television channels and 1,100 radio stations. More than 1,000
channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD(tm) video neighbourhood at 13 degrees
East which serves over 123 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the
Middle East and North Africa. The Group's satellites 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 services through teleports in
France and Italy that serve enterprises, local communities, government
agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Since the company's privatisation in 2001 Eutelsat has launched 13 satellites
(9 by Arianespace, 3 by ILS, 1 by Atlas and 1 by Delta). Headquartered in
Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ 610 commercial, technical and
operational employees from 28 countries. http://www.eutelsat.com

For further information Eutelsat

Press

Vanessa O'Connor Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88 voconnor@eutelsat.fr
Frederique Gautier Tel: +33-1-53-98-38-88 fgautier@eutelsat.fr

Investors

Gilles Janvier Tel: +33-1-53-98-35-30
investors@eutelsat-communications.com

SOURCE Eutelsat Communications

For further information: Eutelsat Press: Vanessa O'Connor, Tel:
+33-1-53-98-38-88, voconnor@eutelsat.fr; Frederique Gautier, Tel:
+33-1-53-98-38-88, fgautier@eutelsat.fr; Investors: Gilles Janvier, Tel:
+33-1-53-98-35-30, investors@eutelsat-communications.com