Astrium Services Expands Maritime VSAT Service on Intelsat’s Global Mobility Broadband Infrastructure
Luxembourg and Paris, 6 September 2012
Intelsat S.A., the world’s leading provider of satellite services, announced today that Astrium Services Business Communications, the newly established business division of Astrium Services, has expanded its capacity on Intelsat’s Ku-band mobility infrastructure. The agreement will enable the maritime communications leader, combining the power of maritime communications leaders Vizada and its affiliate Marlink, to further enhance its global broadband service offerings for the transportation, cruise and offshore segments.
Maritime service providers and customers of Astrium Services will benefit from the new network enhancements on the Intelsat 22 satellite and will leverage capacity on the Intelsat 22 satellite to enhance coverage for its maritime VSAT services, such as WaveCallTM and PharostarTM, in the Indian Ocean. Astrium Services will also utilize the Intelsat 21 satellite, which is designed to provide Ku-band coverage in the southern Atlantic Ocean, expanding the maritime VSAT service capacity in regions requiring more coverage.
The capacity on Intelsat 21 and Intelsat 22 will be accessed via the IntelsatOneSM Network Broadband product, which is built on a global network of VSAT service platforms and teleports integrated with an IP/MPLS backbone. The integration with Astrium Services’ proprietary global teleport network ensures a seamless service with high levels of quality, reliability and availability. The new capacity complements available throughput on the Intelsat C- and Ku-band infrastructure that is already enabling highly reliable connectivity for VSAT customers today.
WaveCall and Pharostar support the use of smaller antennas with straightforward installation and flexible packages to suit different connectivity requirements. Astrium Services is successfully testing its newest commercial VSAT offering with customers of high data allowances with speeds up to 1.5 Mbps. Service providers and customers benefit from low-cost, high-performing broadband communications with the most extensive global coverage.
“Intelsat provides the robust and reliable satellite infrastructure for our mobile VSAT partners and customers around the world, and this expanded commitment is part of our strategy to offer premier coverage and performance to maritime users,” said Tore Morten Olsen, newly appointed maritime director of Astrium Services Business Communications. “Our services are constantly evolving so that we can continue to provide exceptional quality, value and choice.”
“Today’s maritime, land and aeronautical communications service providers are experiencing growth that requires scalable, reliable and cost-effective solutions,” said Jay Yass, Intelsat’s vice president of global accounts and strategic sales. “Astrium Services is leading the way by offering innovative, always-on maritime VSAT solutions that provide true broadband and global connectivity.”
Intelsat’s Ku-band global mobility network, which is scheduled for completion in early 2013, will consist of 10 beams on seven satellites.
Additional Contacts:
Alex Horwitz
Intelsat
Director, Corporate Communications
T: 202-944-6806
E: alex.horwitz@intelsat.com
Jessika Dammert
Astrium Services Business Communications
T: +49 (0)175 581 541 3
E: Jessika.Dammert@vizada.com
Knut Natvig
Marlink
T: +47 48 030 911
E: knut.natvig@marlink.com
Saul Trewern
Saltwater
T: +44 (0)1202 669 244
E: saul.trewern@saltwatercoms.com
www.saltwatercoms.com
About Astrium
Astrium is the number one company in Europe for space technologies and the third in the world. In 2011, Astrium had a turnover close to €5 billion and 18,000 employees worldwide, mainly in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Astrium is the sole European company that covers the whole range of civil and defence space systems and services. Its three business units are: Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure; Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment; Astrium Services for comprehensive fixed and mobile end-to-end solutions covering secure and commercial satcoms and networks, high security and broadcast satellite communications equipment and systems, and bespoke geo-information services, worldwide.
Astrium is a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2011, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of € 49.1 billion and employed a workforce of over 133,000. www.astrium.eads.net
Astrium Services Business Communications will be part of three already established divisions under Astrium Services; Telecoms Services, which is split into Business and Government Communications; Secure Satcoms Systems and Geo-Information. This all-new division consists of the combined power of maritime communications leaders Vizada and Marlink, following their acquisition by Astrium in December 2011. Astrium Services Business Communications provides fully managed satellite services to the maritime, enterprise and aero sectors.
About Intelsat
Intelsat is the leading provider of satellite services worldwide. For over 45 years, Intelsat has been delivering information and entertainment for many of the world’s leading media and network companies, multinational corporations, Internet Service Providers and governmental agencies. Intelsat’s satellite, teleport and fiber infrastructure is unmatched in the industry, setting the standard for transmissions of video, data and voice services. From the globalization of content and the proliferation of HD, to the expansion of cellular networks and broadband access, with Intelsat, advanced communications anywhere in the world are closer, by far.
Intelsat Safe Harbor Statement
Some of the statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. The forward-looking statements made in this release reflect Intelsat's intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of Intelsat's control. Known risks include, among others, the risks included in Intelsat’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the political, economic and legal conditions in the markets we are targeting for communications services or in which we operate and other risks and uncertainties inherent in the telecommunications business in general and the satellite communications business in particular. Because actual results could differ materially from Intelsat's intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about the future, you are urged to view all forward-looking statements contained in this news release with caution. Intelsat does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
