SES receives licence to operate satellite in Brazilian orbital position

7 November 2014

SES (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) announces that ANATEL, the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency, has approved the NSS-806 satellite for use at the 48 degree West orbital position recently awarded at auction to SES. The satellite will provide capacity for Brazil and Latin America.

 “The use of NSS-806 in the Brazilian and Latin American markets demonstrates SES´s commitment to the region. Although we have up to 4 years to start providing capacity from that position, we are now ready to begin supplying our customers and partners with capacity, thereby expanding opportunities in the region,” said Jurandir Pitsch, director of SES DTH do Brasil.

NSS-806 provides C-band and Ku-band capacity and has 28 transponders available for use in Brazil. Together with SES-6, located at 40.5 degrees West, and SES-10, which is under construction and will in the future occupy the 67 degrees West position, NSS-806 will enable television broadcasters to launch new HD and Ultra-HD channels, for example, or allow telecom operators to improve mobile phone signals in remote areas.

“The demand for capacity in Latin America remains strong and SES is fully committed to meeting that demand. The use of NSS-806 in Brazil will allow our customers to improve their services in Brazil and the other countries covered by the satellite,” said Pitsch.

To expand the reception of signals, SES has initiated an antenna program for Brazilian cable operators, providing free antennas and know-how to those who are interested.

“We believe this new orbital position will be an excellent alternative for regional video distribution and signifies added value for cable operators, since most satellites serving this market already have a very high fill rate,” concluded Pitsch.

SES in Latin America

Today, SES has 11 satellites operating at 10 different orbital positions to provide service in Latin America. In addition, the company reaches 21 million homes and supports four DTH platforms in the region. In 2016, the company expects to launch the SES-10 satellite, which is being manufactured by Airbus Defence & Space and is designed for dedicated service to the region.

ANATEL Auction

In May 2014, SES won 2 Brazilian orbital positions as part of an auction by ANATEL. The company invested 33 million Brazilian Reais to operate in the FSS C, Ku and Ka-bands at the 48 degrees West position, as well as 26.8 million Brazilian Reais to operate in the BSS Ku-band at 64 degrees West. The rights granted by ANATEL are valid for 15 years, renewable thereafter for the same period.

 

SES inks satellite exploitation rights for two Brazilian orbital positions

18 August 2014

SES announced that its subsidiary SES DTH do Brasil has signed with Anatel (the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency) the Satellite Exploitation rights terms for two Brazilian orbital positions (48 degrees West and 64 degrees West). The Anatel auction took place in May of this year and the execution plan documents were under review and were the driver for the time being the auction and the signature.

As of the publication of extracts of the rights terms, SES will have four years to make definitive capacity available at 48 degrees West and six years to make definitive capacity available at 64 degrees. At the 48 degrees West orbital position, SES will focus on multiple uses (FSS model – Fixed Satellite Services) and will operate in C-, Ku- and Ka-bands. The 64 degrees West orbital position will be exclusive for direct-to-home use (BSS – Broadcasting Satellite Services). The exploitation rights are valid for 15 years, renewable once for the same period. SES invested a total of R$ 59.8 million (approximately EUR 19.65 million) for the positions.

The official ceremony of signature took place in Brasilia (DF), at the headquarters of Anatel. Present at the event were Mr. Marconi Thomaz de Souza Maya, Anatel Superintendent of Grants and Resources for Provisions and Vânia Maria da Silva, Tawfic Awwad Junior, Marcos Estevo de Oliveira Correa, Afonso Rocha Ferreira Júnior and Marcos Vinicius Ramos da Cruz, members of the Anatel Special Bidding Commission. Jurandir Pitsch, Vice President, Commercial for Latin America-South, represented SES.