SES AND SWISSCOM SIGN AGREEMENT TO DEPLOY ASTRA CONNECT SERVICE IN SWITZERLAND
Luxembourg, 1 October 2014 – SES (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) today announced it has signed an agreement with Switzerland’s leading telecom provider, Swisscom, to provide the Astra Connect service in Switzerland.
Swisscom provides nationwide broadband access as part of the Universal Broadband Service Obligation in Switzerland. In about two percent of homes, a DSL broadband Internet access with the required minimum transmission rate is not possible. To provide Internet access in these homes, Swisscom has decided to opt for a bidirectional satellite solution. Starting from September 2014 it will deploy the Astra Connect service and upgrade the existing access lines.
The Astra Connect service uses Ka-band capacity on SES’s satellite ASTRA 2E, which entered into commercial service in the orbital arc of 28.2 degrees East on February 1, 2014. The solution has been in operation since 2007 and provides next generation broadband services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The high speed broadband service is unaffected by landscape and the satellite signal can be received anywhere, making it a vital solution to those in remote areas.
“We have chosen to partner with SES for this project as it is renowned for reliable solutions and for being a high quality supplier,” said Peter Eschmann, Head of Broadband Service Obligation, Swisscom. “We are also convinced by the scalability of the Astra Connect solution.”
Swisscom is one of Switzerland’s largest providers of Information, Communication and Technology services. The partnership with SES will allow for thousands of homes to access a high quality Internet connection over satellite.
“We are pleased to be working with Swisscom by providing our satellite Internet service offerings,” said Patrick Biewer, the Managing Director of SES Broadband Services. “We are very proud about this new partnership, which is borne out of our capabilities to deliver and scale our services in accordance with the high quality standards set by Swisscom.”
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About SES
SES is a world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of over 50 geostationary satellites. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide.
SES stands for long-lasting business relationships, high-quality service and excellence in the broadcasting industry. The culturally diverse regional teams of SES are located around the globe and work closely with customers to meet their specific satellite bandwidth and service requirements.
SES (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) holds participations in Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico, as well as a strategic participation in satellite infrastructure start-up O3b Networks. Further information under: www.ses.com.
About SWISSCOM
Swisscom is Switzerland’s leading telecom provider with its headquarters in Ittigen, close to the capital city, Berne. With over 20,000 employees it generated turnover of CHF 5.7 billion in the first half-year of 2014. Swisscom is one of the most sustainable companies in Switzerland and Europe.
Swisscom offers mobile communications, fixed networks, Internet and digital TV to corporate and residential customers. It is also one of Switzerland’s largest providers of IT services. Swisscom builds and maintains the mobile and fixed-network infrastructure, transmits broadcast signals and owns shares in media companies.
