SES/ASTRA INTRODUCES NETSYSTEM.COM AT IBC2000

Broadband Satellite Internet access and IP-streaming channels for Italian and European residential users via ASTRA-NET

Netsystem.com, provider of the first satellite broadband IP-multicast and High Speed Internet for Italy, and SES the operator of the ASTRA Satellite System, have signed a contract, comprising both ASTRA-satellite capacity and broadband DVB/IP network services via ASTRA-NET.

SES has taken a 5% share participation in Netsystem.com, thus highlighting the validity of Netsystem.com business idea.

Commenting the partnership, Arturo Artom, President and founder of Netsystem.com said: "Our relationship with ASTRA and its ASTRA-NET network services enables our company to provide new services and content formats to the dynamically growing audience of consumers looking for the highest quality of service of Web-based content. We are launching our services in Italy in October 2000 through an extensive commercial and technical network: The exponential growth of both direct-to-home satellite reception and Internet usage in Italy provide us with very fertile ground for our operation. The business model we are setting up will allow for a rapid roll-out into other European markets in due course."

Netsystem.com forecasts to reach more than 500,000 users by the year 2002: the competitive digital satellite TV market has boosted growth of satellite dishes in Italy, doubling in 1999 (from 1 to 2 millions). Italy is today the third European market for satellite-based pay TV services, following the UK and France; whilst the terrestrial networks offering broadband access will offer limited geographical coverage and are not immediately available.

Netsystem.com, in order to reach its potential users, has organized a nation-wide distribution network, formed by over 1,000 dealers and 3,000 installers, through partnerships with the major IT detail chains and satellite dish installers. Agreements have already been reached with, amongst others, VOBIS and Mondadori Informatica. A comprehensive process of training, aimed at enabling the commercial and technical agents to be ready for the professional installation of the Satellite Modems, will take place in 11 different Italian cities in view of the commercial launch scheduled for October 2000.

Netsystem.com is launching a range of new IP-based broadband multicast and interactive services for residential users on one ASTRA-transponder in October 2000. Deploying ASTRA-NET provides the best satellite service solutions combining broadband delivery of web-based applications, high-quality streaming media contents and on-demand delivery of large data files directly to end user PCs.

Videoportal.com provides initial access through a single, easy-to-use interface to all Netsystem.com broadband services - without a dial-up connection. Videoportal.com features Webcasting (access to thousands of Web pages downloaded at high speed and instantly accessible via the browser's cache memory), Fast Download (download of multimedia files on demand at speeds up to 2Mbit/sec), IP Video Streaming (IP streaming supported by in-depth analysis and related interactive links) and Interactive Ads (commercial interactive videos enabling users to get more information about the products and eventually to buy them). All applications will be made available to the users free-of-charge, directly on their PCs via DVB/IP receiver cards or USB-receiver boxes.

Delivery via ASTRA-NET allows content producers to reach new audiences instantly. Content will be accessible either live or on demand: Videoportal.com, through its editorial staff, produces its own content focused mainly on the Net Economy and financial information and additionally on general entertainment topics such as travel, tourism, lifestyle, "made in Italy". Agreements with major content providers will enhance the thematic content offering, targeted to the user communities. For this purpose, Netsystem.com uses the open and established transmission and communications standards, deployed by ASTRA-NET such as the Internet Protocols (IP) and the Digital Video Broadcasting standard (DVB).

Christian Schock, Director General SES Multimedia says:" We are very pleased about the exciting agreement on capacity and broadband services with Netsystem.com. This market partnership provides us with the first mover advantage in two important areas of our business: The opportunity to promote our ASTRA-NET broadband network services to residential users and the challenge to support Netsystem.com to provide state-of-the-art broadband content to the Italian market."

For further information, please contact:

SES Multimedia S.A./ASTRA-NET Harald Melzer Communications & PR Manager Tel. (352) 710 725 -1 Fax. (352) 710 725 485 Email: hmelze@astra-net.com

Netsystem.com S.p.A. Pier Luigi Corvi Mora Business Development Manager Tel +39 348 8085654 Email: pierluigi.corvi_mora@netsystem.come

About NETSYSTEM.COM

Netsystem.com S.p.A is the first Italian broadband Internet provider via satellite. The company is a major player in the offering to the consumer market of fast internet and broadband services such as high-definition video streaming supported by in-depth analysis and related interactive links, webcasting, e-commerce and interactive advertising.

Videoportal.com is the environment in which all Netsystem.com services are available. The editorial staff is dedicated to experiment new, interactive formats for the moving image: journalists and operators take advantage of their professional expertise in the innovative media of Internet broadcast, producing content focused mainly on the Net Economy and financial information and additionally on general entertainment topics.

Netsystem.com has developed a nation-wide distribution network, formed by over 1,000 dealers and 3,000 installers, through partnerships with major IT detail chains and satellite dish installers.

Netsystem.com will be listed in 2001 on the New Market of the Italian Stock Exchange.

Additional information about Netsystem.com can be found at: www.netsystem.com and www.videoportal.com.

About SES Multimedia/ASTRA-NET:

SES Multimedia S.A, owned 100 % by SES, operates ASTRA-NET, Europe's open and standard-based broadband satellite multimedia and data distribution network. ASTRA-NET enables Content- and Service Providers to create high-speed networks between corporate and consumer user groups. Digital data and multimedia content is transmitted to DVB/IP PC-cards and devices such as USB- and set top boxes. All content is received via small (50 cm) satellite dishes pointed towards the ASTRA satellites. Data transfers can be carried out at net rates of up to 9 Mbit/s to individual PCs and of up to 38 Mbit/s to high end servers. The ASTRA-NET services combined with the new broadband interactive (BBI) features (2-way satellite) provide a seamless solution for high-speed interactive satellite communications across Europe and beyond.

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 format close to 1000 different television and radio channels as well as multimedia and Internet services to an audience in excess of 79 million homes in Europe. Three additional satellites are under construction and due for launch before end 2001.

SES is also a major shareholder (34.13%) in AsiaSat, the leading satellite system in the Asian/Pacific region. On July 17th, 2000, SES entered into definitive agreements to acquire a 50% ownership in Nordic Satellite Company NSAB, the operator of the Scandinavian Sirius satellite system. This transaction was closely followed by the announcement on July 24th that SES was to purchase a 19.99% interest in Embratel Satellite Division, the owner and operator of Brasilsat, the largest satellite fleet in Latin America. Both the NSAB and the Embratel transaction are subject to approval by the relevant competition and regulatory authorities.

Through its strategic investments in AsiaSat, NSAB and Embratel, SES will be able to interconnect the European ASTRA and Sirius satellites with the Asian/Pacific AsiaSats and the Latin American Brasilsats to offer satellite broadband services spanning four continents.

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. In addition, SES is extending its direct involvement in multimedia, with partnerships, joint ventures and direct investment.

SES is the first European satellite operator to commercially exploit the Ka-band frequencies for interactive and multimedia services in Europe. In Q4 2000, SES will commence commercial beta trials of the Broadband Interactive System (BBI), a DVB-RCS based 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).