Paris, France – Alcatel Alenia Space announced that it has
signed a contract to build a new powerful telecommunication satellite for
the U.S. operator SES AMERICOM, an SES GLOBAL company (Luxembourg and Paris Euronext exchanges: SESG). Beginning in mid-2008, the AMC-21 satellite will transmit programming to PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) affiliated television stations throughout the Continental United States (CONUS), Alaska, Hawaii and Caribbean regions, expand occasional resources for broadcasters, and support enterprise communications networks.

As prime contractor, Alcatel Alenia Space will have overall responsibility
for the implementation of the AMC-21 program, being in charge of the design, manufacturing, test and delivery on the ground of the AMC-21
satellite, along with Launch and Early Operations Phase (LEOP), In-Orbit
Test (IOT) support and associated services. Alcatel Alenia Space will also
provide the communications payload.

Orbital Sciences Corporation (Orbital), as a subcontractor of Alcatel
Alenia Space, will provide its small sized GEO spacecraft platform, STAR-2.
Alcatel Alenia Space will be responsible for integrating the Orbital bus
into the fully assembled satellite. AMC-21 will be fitted with 24 Ku-band
transponders, each 36 MHz in bandwidth and will have an operational life
time exceeding 16 years. Weighing about 2,500 kilograms at launch and
having 6 kW of electrical power, it will operate from 125°West longitude.

Pascale Sourisse, President and CEO of Alcatel Alenia Space said: "This
contract strengthens the mutual trust between Alcatel Alenia Space and SES
AMERICOM. We are drawing on Orbital’s strong heritage in small
geostationary platforms to provide SES AMERICOM with a high-performing and
reliable spacecraft. The AMC-21 satellite will enable SES AMERICOM to meet
the current and future strategic needs of its customers, in terms of
robustness and reliability. "

Edward Horowitz, President and CEO of SES AMERICOM, added: "AMC-21 is an
important addition to the AMERICOM Fleet. We believe that the combination
of Alcatel Alenia Space’s innovative design and partnership with Orbital
enables us to serve the needs of our customers as they further integrate
Ku-band into their distribution portfolios. We are also proud and pleased
that the AMC-21 will be anchored by PBS and expect others to join as we
introduce our services into new segments within the enterprise arena."

AMC-21 is the second satellite ordered by the SES family of companies in
North America this year; the Ciel-2 contract was awarded by Ciel Satellite
LP of Canada to Alcatel Alenia Space in March. AMC-21 will be the fifth
satellite(*) delivered by Alcatel Alenia Space to SES AMERICOM in seven
years.
(*)AMC-5, AMC-9, AMC-12, AMC-23

About Alcatel Alenia Space
Alcatel Alenia Space is the European leader in satellite systems, at the
forefront of orbit infrastructures. Created in July 2005, the company
brings together the vast experience and know-how of Alcatel Space and
Alenia Spazio to form a new leading force in European space technology.
Alcatel Alenia Space represents a worldwide standard for space development
that impacts everybody’s future: from navigation to telecommunications,
from meteorology to environmental monitoring, from defense to science and
observation. Alcatel Alenia Space is an affiliate of Alcatel (Paris:
CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) (67%) and Finmeccanica (Milan:SIFI.MI, FNC.IM)
(33%).

About Alcatel
Alcatel provides communications solutions to telecommunication carriers,
Internet service providers and enterprises for delivery of voice, data and
video applications to their customers or employees. Alcatel brings its
leading position in fixed and mobile broadband networks, applications and
services, to help its partners and customers build a user-centric broadband
world. With sales of EURO 13.1 billion and 58,000 employees in 2005,
Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.

About SES AMERICOM
The largest supplier of satellite services in the U.S., SES AMERICOM, an
SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges: SESG),
is recognized as a pioneer of global satellite communications services.
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the launch of its first satellite, the
company today operates a fleet of 17 spacecraft in orbital positions
predominantly providing service throughout the Americas. As a member of
the SES GLOBAL family, SES AMERICOM is able to provide end-to-end
telecommunications solutions to any region of the world via a fleet of more
than 40 satellites. In addition, AMERICOM Government Services, a wholly
owned subsidiary, is dedicated to providing satellite-based communications
solutions to both civilian and defense agencies of the U.S. government.
With its combined operations, SES AMERICOM serves broadcasters, cable
programmers, aeronautical and maritime communications integrators, Internet
service providers, mobile communications networks, government agencies,
educational institutions, carriers and secure global data networks with
efficient communication and content distribution solutions.