SES SIGNS FIRST COMMERCIAL KA-BAND CUSTOMER Kokua Communications opts for ASTRA Broadband Interactive System

Société Européenne des Satellites (SES) has signed the first Ka-band capacity agreement for the ASTRA Broadband Interactive System (BBI) with Kokua Communications Inc. (UK).

Under this agreement, Kokua Communications will utilise capacity on the ASTRA 1H satellite at 19.2° East. Kokua Communications will provide two-way broadband Internet access and business applications for Small- and Medium-size Enterprises (SME's), remote sites of large corporations, and SOHO's (Small Offices/Home Offices), by using the Ka-band satellite return path in combination with the co-located Ku-band forward path. Kokua aims to have 15,000 Satellite Interactive Terminals deployed at customer premises during the first 18 months of service.

The ASTRA-Broadband Interactive System, the first operational DVB-RCS (Return Channel over Satellite) system, is a two-way satellite IP platform based upon open standards that enables collection and distribution of multimedia-rich broadband content. Users within the ASTRA footprint, equipped with a small Satellite Interactive Terminal at their premises, will be able to transmit requests and data or content at speeds of up to 2Mbit/s; more than 30 times faster than a standard 64 kbit/s ISDN connection. The user will also be able to receive broadband content at speeds of up to 38 Mbit/s.

Commenting at the signing, Charles de Carbonnel, the CEO of Kokua, stated: "Through this capacity contract with SES, our company is taking the lead in offering our customers high-speed broadband communications via ASTRA which overcome local infrastructure bottlenecks. Kokua will be the first to offer two-way interactive satellite services via the Ka-Band payload of ASTRA 1H to the business community across Europe."

The contract signature with Kokua Communications Ltd. follows fast on the heels of the recent successful completion of the ASTRA-BBI closed-loop satellite access tests in May. Initial Hub-terminal integration tests via ASTRA 1H are underway at SES' headquarters in Luxembourg. Beta tests will commence with a number of Kokua test sites during Q3 2000.

Romain Bausch, Director General and Chairman of the Management Committee of SES, stated: "We are pleased to have concluded this agreement with Kokua Communications. This marks the beginning of a new era in high-speed, two-way broadband satellite communications for SME's, large corporations and SOHO's. This is also a clear reinforcement of market confidence in the recently finalised DVB-RCS standard. In addition, SES has also exercised its right to purchase a strategic equity interest in Kokua and looks forward to working with Kokua on the successful commercial roll out of the ASTRA Broadband Interactive System throughout Europe."

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About Kokua Communications, Ltd.

Kokua Communications, Inc. provides two-way, ubiquitous broadband Internet connectivity via satellite to businesses, as a cost-effective alternative to terrestrial broadband access. Headquartered in London, and with offices in the US, Kokua will offer services in the UK in 2000, and Europe-wide in 2001.

For more information, visit the company on the World Wide Web at www.kokuacom.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 950 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 is the first European satellite operator to commercially exploit the Ka-band frequency for interactive and multimedia services in Europe. In 2000, SES will commence commercial trials of the first operational DVB-RCS broadband satellite return channel system, 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).

Additional information about ASTRA can be found at: www.ses-astra.com