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March 22, Sydney, Australia -- AAPT, one of Australia’s leading satellite integrators, and New Skies Satellites N.V., the global satellite communications company, today finalized the sale of AAPT’s wholly-owned subsidiary, AAPT Sat-Tel Pty Limited (Sat-Tel) to New Skies’ wholly-owned subsidiary New Skies Networks Australia Pty Ltd. for an undisclosed amount.

“We are delighted to welcome Sat-Tel into partnership with New Skies,” said Bob Ross, New Skies’ Chief Executive Officer. “Sat-Tel’s considerable experience in designing, implementing and managing complete turnkey satellite systems for a broad range of applications is an excellent fit with our plans to expand our satellite communications offerings to include value-added services.”

AAPT’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr Tony Rogge said the sale of Sat-Tel reinforces AAPT’s core strategy of developing access capability through CBD fibre, LMDS, CDMA and eventually xDSL. The funds from this sale will be used to finance other strategic investments for AAPT.

AAPT and New Skies also announced they have entered into a strategic alliance arrangement in which AAPT will lease satellite services from New Skies and continue to provide its customers with bundled satellite solutions.

“Satellite is an important delivery method for point to multi-point applications in regional Australia and we believe AAPT can deliver a better service to its customers through a strategic alliance with New Skies,” continued Mr. Rogge. “Additionally, the funds from this sale will be used to finance other strategic investments for AAPT.”

In addition to benefiting from Sat-Tel’s expertise in satellite Internet products, the transaction will add Sat-Tel’s six teleports (satellite gateways) to New Skies’ growing international network, providing a significant opportunity for New Skies to enter the Australian market. Presently serving Australia with two satellites in both the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, New Skies plans to launch two additional satellites that will enable it to enhance its coverage of Australia within approximately the next two years.

“The combination of our existing satellite resources with planned satellite expansion and Sat-Tel’s resources will allow us to better serve both the Australian and Pacific Rim marketplace,” said Mr. Ross.




About Sat-Tel
Headquartered in Sydney and established in 1997, Sat-Tel has developed a number of very successful satellite services including the provision of very small aperture terminal (VSAT) networks for voice and data communications; interactive and high speed access to the Internet and distance education and training.

About New Skies Satellites
New Skies Satellites is a commercial satellite operator offering video, voice and data distribution and Internet connectivity worldwide. Owned by more than 180 major telecom entities from over 140 countries around the world, NSS operates a global network of five geostationary satellites with a sixth under construction and due for launch in late 2001. NSS also has certain rights to use six additional orbital slots.

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Contacts:
Jessamy Mahony
AAPT Limited
Manager, Media and Investor Relations
Tel: +61 2 9377 7916
Mob: +61 (0) 414 344 653
jmahony@aapt.com.au

Elizabeth Hess
New Skies Satellites
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Tel: +31 70 306 4133
Mob: +31 (0)6 2906 2492
ehess@newskiessat.com