SES (Paris:SESG)(LuxX:SESG) and Astrium Services announced today they have signed capacity deals to deliver connectivity to vessels around Latin America as well as in the North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Astrium Services will renew capacity on the SES-4 satellite to provide its customers with managed services for maritime business communications, tracking equipment and engine performance as well as ensuring crew at sea to stay connected. Located at 338 degrees West, SES-4 is among several SES satellites providing capacity to Astrium Services enabling the company to customise services to satisfy specific needs of the maritime industry.

“The comprehensive coverage of the new SES-4 satellite extending from the Arabian Sea to the South Pacific Ocean is ideal for our customers in this region. Combined with SES’ satellite expertise and our dedicated sales and service team, this coverage is key in developing reliable VSAT services for our global customers in these strategic maritime routes,” said Tore Morten Olsen, Head of Maritime within the Business Communications division of Astrium Services.

Under the new agreement Astrium Services is able to meet several specific communication needs, including reliable VSAT coverage for oil & gas activities offshore of Brazil and East Africa. Additionally, the wider footprint of SES-4 extends coverage over the Gulf of Aden to support vital connectivity to customers in piracy risk zones for instance off the coast of Somalia. The coverage also supports fisheries, transportation and recreational maritime customers in Europe.

“On-the-move global communications needs of the maritime industry have to be met constantly even when vessels and crews are at remote regions of the world. The series of new contracts with Astrium Services reinforces our long-standing partnership and is a testament to our leading position in delivering mobility satellite services,” said Norbert Hölzle, Senior Vice President of Europe, Commercial for SES.

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About Astrium

Astrium is the number one company in Europe for space technologies and the third in the world. In 2011, Astrium had a turnover close to €5 billion and 18,000 employees worldwide, mainly in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands.

Astrium is the sole European company that covers the whole range of civil and defence space systems and services. Its three business units are: Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure; Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment; Astrium Services for comprehensive fixed and mobile end-to-end solutions covering secure and commercial satcoms and networks, high security and broadcast satellite communications equipment and systems, and bespoke geo-information services, worldwide. Astrium is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2011, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of € 49.1 billion and employed a workforce of over 133,000.

About SES

SES is a world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of 52 geostationary satellites. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide. SES stands for long-lasting business relationships, high-quality service and excellence in the broadcasting industry. The culturally diverse regional teams of SES are located around the globe and work closely with customers to meet their specific satellite bandwidth and service requirements.

SES (Paris:SESG)(LuxX:SESG) holds participations in Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico, as well as a strategic participation in satellite infrastructure start-up O3b Networks. Further information under: www.ses.com.