Americom Asia-Pacific Announces GE-1A Satellite Successfully Launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2000

Americom Asia-Pacific, LLC (AAP) announced today the successful launch of its GE-1A satellite at 22:00 UTC by ILS from the Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The launch of GE-1A marks the operational beginning of Americom Asia-Pacific, the joint venture formed by GE Americom and Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications.

Andreas Georghiou, AAP's President who also serves as GE Americom's Senior Vice President of Global Satellite Services, said "With next month's operation of GE-1A, we look forward to realizing our plan of bringing high-quality Ku-band satellite service to this important region." He continued "We are delighted with this first-ever launch entrusted to the Proton." Elias Zaccack, AAP's Managing Director, said "We were thrilled with today's spectacular launch; we have the right resources on the ground in each region so that ISPs, telecommunications companies and broadcasters can take advantage of the excellent technical features of GE-1A."

GE-1A, a powerful Ku-band satellite, will be located at 108.2 E.L. and provide service via three beams to greater China, south Asia including India, and northeast Asia and the Philippines. The spacecraft features 28 active 36 MHz Ku-band transponders with 120-watt TWTAs. The GE-1A satellite is an A2100AX spacecraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, for a minimum useful life of 15 years. Expected to be fully operational by November 15, 2000, GE-1A will deliver Internet applications, VSAT, data and telecommunications services, cable and broadcast programming.

Americom Asia-Pacific (AAP) is a 50/50 joint venture company of Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications, a provider of space-based and terrestrial networking services to customers worldwide, and GE Americom, one of the world's pioneers in specialized, satellite-based distribution services. Lockheed Martin is providing highly reliable A2100 spacecraft and launch services on behalf of Americom Asia-Pacific, while GE Americom is supplying the orbital slot (108.2(degree)EL), satellite telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) and orbital location services.

Formed in 1998, the company will provide high-powered capacity and state-of-the-art services to ISP's and their customers, programmers, telcos and carriers throughout the Asia-Pacific region. AAP has established its headquarters in Singapore with additional sales and technical support teams in Beijing and New Delhi.