Satellite Operators Create Coalition for Competitive Launches

WASHINGTON, D.C.--(Business Wire)--
Four of the leading operators of communications satellites announced today the
formation of a Coalition for Competitive Launches. The coalition is aimed at
enhancing worldwide competition in the provision of commercial satellite
launches, a business led today by Russian and French companies.

The four members of the coalition, all of which provide a broad range of
commercial satellite services in the United States including direct-to-home
television, video distribution, broadband, and government services by satellite,
are EchoStar, Intelsat, SES and Telesat. Providing leadership for the group is
former US Senator John W. Warner (R-VA), a nationally recognized defense and
national security expert and former chair of the Senate Armed Services
Committee.

"This coalition is focused on providing greater, and more cost-effective, access
to space. It seeks to increase launch vehicle options that could ultimately
lower costs for users of communications satellites, while addressing the
concerns of the US Government regarding the potential transfer of sensitive
satellite technology," said Sen. Warner. "Those users include American consumers
and other international audiences who watch television and use the Internet, all
of the major US programmers, telecommunications companies, US industry, and of
course the US Government, which relies extensively on commercial satellites for
national security, public safety and other critical communications."

The global market for launch vehicles capable of lifting large commercial
satellites into orbit has been greatly affected by two developments. First, the
formerly competitive US launch vehicles, the Atlas and the Delta, are now
manufactured by a single company, United Launch Alliance (ULA), which dedicates
virtually all of its capacity to launching satellites owned by the US
Government, leaving essentially no capacity available for commercial satellite
launches. Second, one of the world`s most reliable launchers is manufactured in
China and has effectively been treated as "off-limits" to US satellite companies
for more than a decade.

Sen. Warner said: "We call on the Defense Department, the State Department and
other national security arms of our Executive Branch to take a new look at our
country`s launch vehicle capabilities and relevant export control policies.
Current US policies can and should be reformed to encourage competition and
diversification for satellite operators, consistent with U.S. national security
considerations."

Sen. John Warner at Hogan & Hartson: 202 637 8875

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