THE HAGUE, Netherlands, May 2, 2003 – New Skies Satellites N.V. (AEX, NYSE: NSK), the global satellite communications company, today announced that Star One, one of the largest companies providing satellite services in Latin America, has increased its capacity on the New Skies satellite network by nearly 50 percent.
The new multiple transponders on the NSS-7 satellite complement Star One’s existing capacity on New Skies’ NSS-806 satellite to support its growing consumer and corporate broadband Internet access services throughout Brazil and Mercosur. To access NSS-7, Star One has installed a new antenna at its primary teleport facility in Guaratiba in the State of Rio de Janeiro. NSS-7 will provide an unparalleled combination of coverage, connectivity, power and transponder bandwidth, and it will be instrumental in consolidating Star One as the major supplier of broadband services in the region.
Star One, a subsidiary of Embratel and owner and operator of five C-band satellites, signed for multiple Ku-band transponders on New Skies’ NSS-806 satellite during 2001 and 2002. The powerful NSS-7 and NSS-806 Ku-band coverage of Brazil fulfill the intensive transmission requirements of small, sub-meter antennas used in Star One’s satellite Internet services for consumers, small businesses and corporate networks.
Dolores Martos, New Skies’ vice president of sales for Latin America, said: “We are very proud to have Star One, one of our most valued customers, on board our newer satellite serving Latin America. The implementation of a new antenna in Guaratiba accessing NSS-7 will open new business opportunities for Star One in Brazil and Mercosur. The NSS-7 design provides increased throughput per transponder, while allowing the use of smaller antennas at the customer premises.
“Additionally, with Star One’s innovative broadband Internet services, EasyBand and EasyBand Corporate, delivered directly to corporations, consumer households and offices throughout Brazil, their platform perfectly illustrates the capabilities and powerful Brazilian coverage offered by our NSS-7 and NSS-806 satellites.”
About New Skies Satellites
New Skies Satellites (AEX, NYSE: NSK) is one of only four fixed satellite communications companies with truly global satellite coverage, offering video, voice, data and Internet communications services to a range of telecommunications carriers, broadcasters, large corporations and Internet service providers around the world. New Skies has six satellites in orbit, ground facilities around the world and one additional spacecraft under construction. The company also has secured certain rights to make use of additional orbital positions for future growth. New Skies is headquartered in The Hague, The Netherlands, and has offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, New Delhi, São Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Washington, D.C. Additional information is available at www.newskies.com.
About Star One
Star One is the leading company providing satellite solutions in Latin America. Established in December 2000, the company originated from a partnership between Embratel (with an 80 percent interest) and SES GLOBAL - Société Européenne des Satellites S.A, the leading satellite company in Europe, with a 20 percent interest. Currently, the company holds the 10th position in the global ranking for satellite operators.
Only two years after coming into business, Star One had a R$ 82 million net profit in 2002. This figure is about 30 percent higher than the result for the previous year (67,10 million). The company also registered a 10 percent increase in comparison with the 2001 income. In 2002, the company's income amounted to R$ 347 million, compared to the 314 million result in the previous year.
