SES TO DEPLOY MULTIMEDIA PLATFORM IN HONG KONG

Société Européenne des Satellites (SES), the operator of Europe's premier ASTRA satellite system and a major strategic investor in AsiaSat, announces the deployment of an ASTRA-NET compatible multimedia platform in Hong Kong by early 2000.

The multimedia platform, identical to SES' new 2nd generation ASTRA-NET platform operational in Europe, will use AsiaSat digital satellite transmission capacity enabling service and content providers to rapidly and cost-effectively distribute multimedia content directly to addressed PC's in businesses and homes.

Open and neutral, the platform employs established standards such as Internet Protocol (IP) and the digital transmission standard DVB/MPEG. It allows for IP Multicast Package Delivery and Streaming applications as well as High Speed Internet. Initially supporting uni-directional point-to-multipoint services, the platform is designed for the addition of satellite return path services, to be fully compatible with the Ka-Band broadband interactive system which SES/ASTRA will be pioneering in Europe starting 2000.

Romain Bausch, Director General and Chairman of the Management Committee of SES stated: "SES has embarked on creating a seamless intercontinental broadband IP distribution system. This underlines the Company's clear-cut strategy of service diversification and expansion. The installation of an ASTRA-NET compliant multimedia platform in Hong Kong, allows for the establishment of a "one-stop-shop" for multimedia applications via satellite over the combined ASTRA and AsiaSat footprints. This area contains ¾ of the world's population. To further extend the seamless distribution of IP traffic, additional satellite multimedia platforms using ASTRA-NET technology will be established in different regions of the world over the coming months. This will enable service providers to offer customers continuous data contribution and distribution solutions on a global scale."

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About SES:

Société Européenne des Satellites S.A. (SES) is the operator of ASTRA, Europe's leading direct-to-home Satellite System. ASTRA transmits in analogue and digital more than 800 different television and radio channels as well as multimedia services to an audience of 77 million homes in Europe. SES is also a major shareholder in ASIASAT (34.13% since January 15th, 1999),

The ASTRA Satellite System currently comprises eight geostationary satellites at the orbital position of 19.2° East. A ninth GEO satellite is permanently operational since October 1st, 1998 at SES' second orbital position of 28.2° East to provide satellite digital services in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

SES currently has four additional satellites under construction, which are due for launch before the end of the year 2001. ASTRA 1K will provide back-up and additional capacity at 19.2° East while ASTRA 2B, ASTRA 2C and ASTRA 2D, will be co-positioned with ASTRA 2A at 28.2° East.

SES is also a pioneer of interactive and multimedia services through SES Multimedia, a wholly owned subsidiary. SES Multimedia operates the ASTRA-NET platform, enabling service and content providers to transmit data directly, via satellite, to personal computers in businesses and homes across Europe.

SES expects to be the first European satellite operator to commercially exploit the Ka-band frequency for interactive and multimedia services in Europe. In 2000, SES will commence operations of a broadband interactive system via satellite which will serve the growing market in Western and Central Europe for 2-way asymmetric, high-speed broadband collection and delivery of multimedia.

SES securities are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (symbol: SES) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (symbol: SDSL)

About AsiaSat:

Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), the leading provider of high-quality satellite transponder capacity in Asia, serves over two-thirds of the world's population with its satellites. The AsiaSat satellite system provides services to both the broadcast and telecommunications markets. Over 90 analogue and digital television channels and 100 radio channels are now delivered by the company's satellites, reaching over 70 million households, with more than 250 million viewers across the Asia Pacific region. AsiaSat also serves many telecommunications customers for services such as public telephone networks, private VSAT networks and high speed Internet and multimedia services.

AsiaSat is a wholly owned subsidiary of Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited, a company listed on both the Hong Kong (HKSE: 1135) and New York (NYSE:SAT) stock exchanges. AsiaSat's two major shareholders are China International Trust and Investment Corporation ("CITIC") and Société Européenne des Satellites ('SES'), the operator of Europe's premier ASTRA satellite system.