First batch of four Ob satellites ready for shipping to launch site

28 March 2013

Thales Alenia Space prime contractor for the 12 satellites in this high-speed, low latency, low cost constellation

Rome, March 28, 2013 The first four satellites in the O3b medium Earth orbit (MEO) constellation, operated by O3b Networks, are ready to be shipped to the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana. They will leave Thales Alenia Spaces Rome facility in early April, and will be launched by Arianespace, using a Soyuz launcher. The second batch of four satellites will also be launched in 2013, and the third batch during the first half of 2014.

Positioned at an altitude of 8,063 kilometers, four times closer to the earth than geostationary satellites, these Ka-band satellites will offer high speed, low cost, low-latency Internet and telecommunications services in emerging markets. O3b Networks will supply trunking and mobile backhaul connectivity to telecom operators at speeds comparable to those offered by fiber-optic networks. Having expanded the constellation from eight to twelve satellites, O3b Networks will virtually double its capacity and guarantee greater service availability and reliability.

This initial delivery marks a major step forward in the prestigious O3b program, said Nathalie Smirnov, EVP Telecommunications at Thales Alenia Space. The O3b satellites are based on our EliteBus platform, already proven in orbit and perfectly suited to telecommunications constellations, with excellent performance and a secure development process.

Thales Alenia Space has produced more than 100 satellites for low and medium orbit constellations (12 O3b, 81 Iridium NEXT and 24 Globalstar Second Generation), making it the global leader in this sector. In addition to telecommunications programs, Thales Alenia Space can offer its EliteBus platform for a wide range of other applications, including observation, navigation and many different civil or military missions.

About Thales Alenia Space

The European leader in satellite systems and a major player in orbital infrastructures, Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%). Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio embody the two groups' Space Alliance. Thales Alenia Space sets the global standard in solutions for space telecommunications, radar and optical Earth observation, defense and security, navigation and science. With consolidated revenues of 2.1 billion euros in 2012, Thales Alenia Space has 7,500 employees in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium and United States.

www.thalesaleniaspace.com

Thales Alenia Space Press Contacts:

Sandrine Bielecki - Tel: 33 (0)4 92 92 70 94

sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com

Tarik Lahlou - Tel: 33 (0)4 92 92 68 45

tarik.lahlou@thalesaleniaspace.com

Tiziana Ebano - Tel: 39 06 41512574

tiziana.ebano@thalesaleniaspace.com

About O3b Networks Limited

O3b Networks Limited is a global satellite service provider building a next-generation satellite network for telecommunications operators, Internet service providers, enterprise and government customers in emerging markets. The O3b system will combine the global reach of satellite with the speed of a fiberoptic network providing billions of consumers and businesses in nearly 180 countries with lowcost, highspeed, low latency Internet and mobile connectivity. O3b Networks' investors include SES, Google, Liberty Global, HSBC Principal Investments, Northbridge Venture Partners, Allen & Company, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Sofina, Satya Capital and Luxempart. O3b Networks is headquartered in St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands.

For further information please contact:

Luisa Sorrentino

VP, Marketing, O3b Networks

Luisa.sorrentino@o3bnetworks.com

31629508524

www.o3bnetworks.com

LINK:	http://www.thalesgroup.com/Press_Releases/Markets/Space/2013/First_bat...
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