EUTELSAT 21B Satellite in Full Commercial Service

PARIS, December 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Longstanding 21.5° East orbital position takes on a new dimension

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) today announced the full entry into commercial service of the powerful EUTELSAT 21B satellite at 21.5° East. The seamless transfer of all traffic from the EUTELSAT 21A satellite was carried out overnight by Eutelsat's control centre, working in close collaboration with clients and providers of uplink services.

The EUTELSAT 21B satellite takes the 21.5° East position to a new dimension for users ranging from broadcasters to news agencies, telcos, enterprises and government administrations. The new satellite offers increased bandwidth (40 Ku-band transponders versus 29 on EUTELSAT 21A), higher power and improved flexibility. In addition to an enhanced Widebeam spanning Europe, North Africa and Central Asia, it features two dedicated high-energy beams covering North-West Africa and the Middle East/Central Asia optimised for data, broadband and professional video services. Customers now have the choice to operate services within a beam or to interconnect between beams.

EUTELSAT 21A will now be redeployed to 48° East where it will continue to provide full commercial service. The EUTELSAT 70B satellite, launched on December 3, is currently undergoing in-orbit testing and on track to enter service at 70.5° East in mid-January 2013.

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A. With capacity commercialised on 30 satellites that provide coverage across Europe, as well as the Middle East, Africa and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators. As of 30 September 2012 Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting 4,400 television channels to over 200 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and 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 high speed Internet services through teleports in France and Italy that serve consumers, 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 750 commercial, technical and operational professionals. This culturally diverse staff comprises employees from 30 countries. http://www.eutelsat.com

SOURCE Eutelsat Communications