BBC Contracts Two Additional Transponders on ASTRA 28.2 degrees East.

Business Editors

BETZDORF, Luxembourg--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 16, 2003

SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Luxembourg and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges: SESG), and the BBC are pleased to announce that the BBC has contracted two additional transponders on the ASTRA 2D satellite at 28.2 degrees East. With these new long-term contracts, the BBC now uses six ASTRA transponders on the UK's prime orbital position for satellite direct-to-home reception. The BBC intends to use the additional capacity to broadcast all of its regional variants to the UK's 6 million plus ASTRA digital satellite homes.

Andy Townend, Controller of BBC Distribution, said: "We have a strong working relationship with Astra and are pleased that this additional arrangement means we can now offer all our services in-the-clear to UK licence fee payers."

Comments Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA: "We are delighted to further extend our collaboration with a prestigious public broadcaster like the BBC. In addition to the two new contracts, we have recently renewed two existing ASTRA contracts with the BBC, while all existing transmissions have been transferred to the ASTRA 2D satellite at 28.2 degrees East. Our continued excellent business relationship will not only allow for the BBC to considerably increase their programme offer to existing ASTRA direct-to-home viewers at 28.2 degrees East. In addition, the ASTRA 2D satellite provides capacity for the BBC's announced plans to broadcast its ASTRA satellite transmissions in-the-clear to UK viewers."

About SES ASTRA www.ses-astra.com

The ASTRA Satellite System is Europe's leading Direct-to-Home satellite system chosen by a wide range of television and radio broadcasters and multimedia service providers for the delivery of free-to-air and pay broadcast and broadband services to more than 92 million Direct-to-Home and cable households in Europe. The ASTRA satellite fleet currently comprises 13 satellites, transmitting more than 1100 analogue and digital television and radio channels as well as multimedia and internet services. ASTRA's two prime orbital positions for DTH (Direct-To-Home) services are 19.2 degrees East and 28.2 degrees East. Professional services are offered from the orbital positions of 23.5 degrees/24.2 degrees East and 5.2 degrees East.

SES ASTRA is wholly owned by SES GLOBAL, a publicly quoted company with securities listed on the Stock Exchanges in Luxembourg and Frankfurt (SESG). SES GLOBAL wholly owns two operating companies, SES AMERICOM and SES ASTRA, and has strategic holdings in other leading regional satellite service providers around the world - AsiaSat, AMERICOM ASIA PACIFIC, NSAB, Nahuelsat and Star One. Through these SES GLOBAL can provide outstanding satellite communications solutions via a fleet of 41 satellites across the globe.

Additional info at: www.ses-global.com