ASTRA BROADBAND INTERACTIVE NETWORK (BBI) COMPLETES FIRST BROADBAND SATELLITE ACCESS TESTS SES on track to offer direct access to ASTRA Satellite System

Société Européenne des Satellites (SES) and EMS Technologies, Inc. are pleased to announce the completion of the world's first DVB-RCS closed loop broadband satellite access tests. This represents the completion of another successful stage in the development of the SES ASTRA Broadband Interactive System (BBI).

The BBI system, based on the new international open standard DVB-RCS ("Return Channel via Satellite"), will enable end-users to have two-way broadband data communications from their own premises via low-cost Ka-band satellite terminals, at speeds of up to 35 times the current 56.6 kbit/s of terrestrial modems.

"With this important milestone, SES has proven itself to be on track to delivering the world's first Ka-band, two-way fully operational system, making high-speed, low-cost data communications via satellite a reality", said Robert Feierbach, Broadband Interactive Business Director at SES Multimedia.

The deployment of BBI will also allow satellite return channel users to book, use and pay for only the bandwidth they need, to contribute data and IP-based multimedia content and services to a network hub. The data can then be delivered immediately to specified locations or, if required, stored and scheduled for later distribution. This flexible and economic approach to bandwidth management ensures that the maximum number of subscribers can be supported per satellite transponder.

EMS Technologies also finalised the schedule for supplying a complete DVB-RCS demonstration system to SES by the end of June 2000. This is a precursor to the delivery of a fully operational system by the end of 2000. EMS will supply the critical hub technologies as well as end-user terminals under the agreement with SES.

The ASTRA BBI system will provide the first fully-featured Ka-band broadband solution via satellite, making efficient and economic high-speed, high quality two-way communications readily accessible for consumers, content and service providers, micro-channel operators and for corporate and business-to-business applications across Europe.

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About EMS Technologies, Inc.

EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq - ELMG) is a leading provider of wireless and satellite communications solutions, and focuses its unique range of technologies on the needs of broadband and mobile information users. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, employs 1,600 people worldwide, and has major manufacturing facilities in Atlanta, Ottawa and Montreal. For more information, visit the company on the World Wide Web at www.ems-t.com

About SES/ASTRA

Société Européenne des Satellites S.A. (SES) is the operator of ASTRA, Europe's leading direct-to-home Satellite System. Via nine active satellites at the orbital positions of 19.2° East and 28.2° East, ASTRA transmits in analogue and digital more than 930 different television and radio channels as well as multimedia and Internet services to an audience of close to 78 million homes in Europe. Four additional satellites are under construction and due for launch before end 2001. SES is also a major shareholder in ASIASAT (34.13% since January 15th, 1999).

SES is 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, via the ASTRA Broadband Interactive System (BBI). In 2000, SES will commence operations of a return channel 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 SES Multimedia/ASTRA-NET:

ASTRA-NET is Europe's leading broadband satellite network service for the distribution of multimedia and data applications. It enables content creators and aggregators as well as service providers to deliver information and entertainment at high speeds directly to stand-alone PCs, VPNs and LANs in businesses and homes. The contents may be streamed to user communities at net rates of up to 6.5 Mbit/s as IP multicasts or webcasts. Data files can be also be "pushed" to addressed users at speeds of up to 38 Mbit/s. High Speed Internet services reach users without caching at speeds of up to 400 kbit/s over TCP/IP. ASTRA-NET transmissions are DVB/IP-based, allowing users to receive in-the-clear as well as encrypted services. In Europe the services are available via a small (50 cm) satellite dish, pointed towards the ASTRA Satellite System. Broadband delivery over Asia and Australia is carried out via the ASTRA-NET services on AsiaSat.

SES Multimedia S.A. operates ASTRA-NET as an open transmission platform, enabling providers to manage content distribution and subscribers. The use of standard-based technology underscores SES Multimedia's determination to support and accelerate the dynamic growth of the European broadband satellite multimedia and data transmission market.