ProtoStar I Will Provide Direct-To-Home Broadcast and Broadband Services Across Multiple Regions In Asia
Palo Alto, CA - January 5, 2007—Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications (NASDAQ:LORL) and the world's leading provider of commercial telecommunications satellites, today announced that it has been awarded a contract to deliver a high-power satellite to ProtoStar Ltd. with an expected launch in 2008. With this award from ProtoStar, SS/L received seven commercial satellite contracts in 2006.
SS/L will immediately begin modifications on the former ChinaSat-8 satellite, a high-power geostationary satellite that has been in storage at SS/L's manufacturing facility in Palo Alto, Calif. ProtoStar acquired the satellite from China Telecommunications Broadcast Satellite Corporation and China National Postal and Telecommunications Appliances Corporation under an agreement reached in 2006. SS/L will tailor the spacecraft to meet ProtoStar's requirements, which target emerging and existing direct-to-home (DTH) operators in the Asian market as well as other broadband communication needs in the region.
"Space Systems/Loral is a leading manufacturer of high-powered satellites that meet the advanced video and data services requirements of major DTH operators in Asia and worldwide," said Philip Father, chief executive officer of ProtoStar. "As a result, we are excited to work with them to leverage their proven reliability and performance to meet the customized needs of our anchor Asian DTH customers."
The ProtoStar I satellite is undergoing specialized customization to meet the defined power and footprint/coverage requirements of ProtoStar's customers. It is the first in a fleet of multiple satellites that ProtoStar plans to launch to support in-country partners that want to offer their subscribers satellite television packages with more than 150 channels of digital-quality video (ultimately high definition), audio, and pay-per-view programming as well as powerful two-way broadband Internet access as an added offering.
The satellite built by Space Systems/Loral is based on the company's highly reliable 1300 spacecraft bus. It will operate in both Ku-Band and C-Band and is expected to provide more than 15 years of service.
"ProtoStar has planned an innovative approach to the delivery of satellite services in Asia and SS/L is proud to be building the technology that will drive this unique service," said John Celli, president of Space Systems/Loral. "ProtoStar I will focus on three different regions, enabling ProtoStar to deliver digital television services to large, underserved areas across multiple, highly populated countries. We are very pleased to provide ProtoStar with a satellite that quickly helps it achieve its goals."
About ProtoStar
ProtoStar, a Bermuda
corporation with operational headquarters in San Francisco, California,
was formed to acquire and operate high-power geostationary satellites
optimized for DTH satellite television and broadband Internet access
services in the Asia-Pacific region. For more information, visit www.protostarsat.com.
About Space Systems/Loral
Space Systems/Loral
is a premier designer, manufacturer, and integrator of powerful satellites
and satellite systems. SS/L also provides a range of related services
that include mission control operations and procurement of launch
services. Based in Palo Alto, Calif., the company has an international
base of commercial and government customers whose applications include
broadband data communications, television and radio broadcasting,
mobile satellite services, fixed satellite services, defense communications,
environmental monitoring, and air traffic control. SS/L satellites
have amassed more than 1,300 years of reliable on-orbit service.
SS/L is ISO 9001:2000 certified. For more information, visit www.ssloral.com.
About Loral Space & Communications
Loral
Space & Communications
is a satellite communications company. In addition to Space Systems/Loral,
through its Skynet subsidiary Loral owns and operates a fleet of
telecommunications satellites used to broadcast video entertainment
programming, and for broadband data transmission, Internet services
and other value-added communications services. For more information,
visit Loral's web site at www.loral.com.
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This document contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended. In addition, Loral Space & Communications Inc. or its representatives have
made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing,
which may be included in, but are not limited to, various filings
made from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
press releases or oral statements made with the approval of an authorized
executive officer of the company. Actual results could differ materially
from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements
as a result of a wide variety of factors and conditions. Many of
these factors and conditions are described under the caption "Risk
Factors" in each of the company's annual report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 and its quarterly reports
on Form 10-Q for subsequent periods. The reader is specifically referred
to these documents, as well as the company's other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Investor Contact: John McCarthy
Loral Space & Communications
(212) 338-5345
Media Contact: Wendy Lewis
Space Systems/Loral
(650) 852-5188