New Delhi, India, March 20, 2001 -- New Skies Satellites, (AEX, NYSE: NSK), the global satellite communications company, has launched a second Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) platform used to carry Internet traffic for the Indian subcontinent based on extremely strong demand for service. A third platform is planned for implementation later this year.
New Skies’ suite of Internet bundled service offering, trademarked IPsysSM, creates a direct connection from the Internet backbone to an ISP’s local service point using a high-speed Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) or Single Channel per Carrier (SCPC) connections. Multi-homing satellite links enable ISPs to offer their customers one-hop connections from the global Internet backbone, thus reducing latency and IP packet loss. The IPsysSM service makes use of direct peering with Tier 1 Internet backbone providers for more direct and thus more robust connections. Currently, New Skies provides over 500 Mbps of Internet connectivity directly to ISP customers around the world through five DVB platforms and SCPC carrier services covering India, South and East Africa, Central Africa, Asia and Latin America, making New Skies one of the largest Internet-over-satellite players in the industry.
“India is experiencing tremendous growth in the need for Internet connectivity,” said Srini Prasanna, Vice President of Sales for India, the Middle East and Africa for New Skies. “This is being fueled by dramatic growth in the number of rich media applications for the Internet and new users vying for access. We are fully committed and able to meet the needs of this demanding market.”
India has always been an important market for New Skies. To respond to the growing demand for interactive broadband multimedia communications in the region, New Skies increased its strategic presence by opening an office in New Delhi on November 1, 2000. Additionally, New Skies has contracted for an interactive broadband multimedia satellite to serve Asia, including the entire Indian subcontinent from 95 degrees East longitude. Scheduled for launch by the fourth quarter of 2002, this satellite has a number of unique features optimized for Internet and broadband multimedia traffic.
About New Skies Satellites N.V.
New Skies is a global satellite communications company with five satellites in geosynchronous orbit and ground facilities around the world. New Skies has two new satellites under construction. Headquartered in The Hague, The Netherlands, New Skies is one of only three fixed satellite services companies with truly global satellite coverage. It offers video, voice, data and Internet communications links for broadcast networks, carriers, enterprise customers and ISPs.
New Skies began operations as a commercial spin-off from INTELSAT, the US-based international satellite communications organization in November 1998 and completed an Initial Public Offering in October 2000, listing on both the Euronext Amsterdam exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. New Skies generated revenues of $198.3 million in 2000.
For any further information, please contact:
Daniëlle Keukenmeester, New Skies Satellites
Tel: +31 6 2958 6608 dkeukenmeester@newskies.com
Or
Elizabeth Hess, New Skies Satellites
Tel: +31 70 306 4133, ehess@newskies.com
