SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) and Dutch satellite service provider CANALDIGITAAL, today announced at the IBC in Amsterdam the conclusion of an agreement for the provision of Broadband Internet services via the ASTRA Satellite System.

CANALDIGITAAL will offer the satellite internet service to Direct-To-Home (DTH) households, especially those which cannot be served by xDSL or broadband cable. Although large parts of the Netherlands have access to xDSL and cable, there is a high demand for broadband internet services outside these areas. With a fast growing base of over 600.000 DTH homes already subscribing to its bouquets of TV and radio services, the provision of broadband internet services is for CANALDIGITAAL a logical extension of its service offering.

The CANALDIGITAAL internet offering will be based on a hybrid solution, using the satellite for downloading and GPRS, Edge or a telephone line for uploading. Initially three downstream capacities will be offered: 256 Kbps, 512 Kbps and 768 Kbps. CANALDIGITAAL will select Telecom operators and technology partners to support this new service. The goal is to start the introduction of the service in the fourth quarter of this year. Details on pricing will be disclosed shortly.

Hans Wolfert, Chairman of the Board of CANALDIGITAAL, stated: “By introducing broadband internet access that can be used anywhere in the Netherlands, CANALDIGITAAL further commits itself to providing freedom of choice to Dutch consumers. Our aim is to combine different technologies into a user-friendly service proposition, at an affordable price. We are very pleased that SES ASTRA will support us in reaching that goal, building upon their excellent experience and know-how in this field”.

Alexander Oudendijk, Senior Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer at SES ASTRA, comments: “We are very pleased that CANALDIGITAAL has selected SES ASTRA as its partner for the provision of internet access services. With already an excellent and long-term relationship for the provision of TV and radio services to Dutch satellite homes, we look forward to a successful cooperation in this new service area. The bundling of TV, radio and internet services is a further enhancement of the attractiveness of Direct-To-Home reception in the Netherlands.”

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