N24 JOINS FREE-TO-AIR DIGITAL LINE-UP AT 19.2° EAST

Société Européenne des Satellites S.A. (SES) is pleased to announce a further enhancement of the digital free-TV line-up on the ASTRA Satellite System: The German news TV channel N24 offering German-language news around the clock, focusing on business and financial information as well as international and domestic politics, started broadcasting on December 1st, 2000 in digital free-to-air.

N24 uses ASTRA transponder no. 104 (12.4800 GHz; V-polarisation, FEC 3/4, symbol rate 27.500). N24 thus optimises its reach in German-language digital homes and in Europe. ASTRA serves 1.79 million digital homes in Germany and Austria, either direct-to-home (DTH) or via cable redistribution. N24 can also be received anywhere within the European ASTRA footprint, where broadcasts from ASTRA are received by almost 80 million homes, i.e. in 50% of European TV households.

Yves Elsen, Commercial and Marketing Director of SES, welcomes N24 on ASTRA: "N24 becomes the 79th channel to join the steadily growing number of television programmes who have opted for Europe-wide digital free-to-air distribution via ASTRA 19.2°. With its unparalleled digital program choice, 19.2° East is unquestionably the prime orbital position for pan-European DTH reception."

For further information please contact:

Yves Feltes Press Relations Manager SES Tel. (352) 710 72 53 11 Yves_Feltes@ses-astra.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 ten satellites at the orbital positions of 19.2° East and 28.2° East, ASTRA transmits in analogue and digital more than 1030 different television and radio channels as well as multimedia and Internet services to an audience of close to 80 million homes in Europe. Four additional satellites are under construction and due for launch before end of Q1, 2002.

SES is a major shareholder (34.13%) in AsiaSat, Asia's leading satellite operator. SES also holds a 50% ownership in Nordic Satellite Company (NSAB), operator of the Sirius satellites, and a 20% participation in Embratel Satellites, the operator of the Brasilsat satellite fleet in Latin America.

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 is the first European satellite operator to commercially exploit the Ka-band frequency for interactive and multimedia services in Europe. SES is conducting commercial trials of the first operational DVB-RCS broadband satellite return channel system, serving 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).