Telenor ASA and Orbital Sciences Corporation announced recently that they
have signed a contract for delivery of a geosynchronous (GEO) communications
satellite. The spacecraft (THOR II-R), will be based on Orbital's STARTM
satellite platform and calls for a 26-month in-orbit delivery schedule. The
contract provides replacement satellite for THOR II, which will be retired from
service in 2008. Telenor Satellite Broadcasting, a division of Telenor Broadcast
Holding AS, based in Oslo, Norway will own and operate the satellite. Orbital
will be responsible for manufacturing and testing the satellite, and procuring
the dedicated launch service. Telenor has directed Orbital to negotiate with ILS
for a Proton launch.
Telenor's new spacecraft will provide Ku-band fixed telecommunications and
direct-to-home television broadcasting services from Telenor's 1 degree West
Longitude orbital location. The new satellite will have 24 transponders with
three times more payload power (3.6 kilowatts payload power) compared to the
current THOR II satellite. THOR II-R will weigh approximately 2,450 kg at launch
and will improve Telenor's service coverage in the Nordic countries, Europe and
the Middle East. Delivery of the satellite is scheduled in the fourth quarter of
2007.
Commenting on the contract award, Dr. Ali Atia, head of Orbital's GEO
communications satellite unit, said, "We very much appreciate the
confidence Telenor, one of the largest global telecommunications firms, has
shown in Orbital by purchasing this satellite from us. Orbital is very pleased
to be providing this satellite to a dynamic and expanding market in Europe, thus
demonstrating Orbital's abilities to meet the various needs of customers in
Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East."
Mr. Cato Halsaa, Managing Director of Telenor Satellite Broadcasting, said,
"We are very pleased to be working together with Orbital to provide this
replacement for THOR II. New TV channels, the introduction of HDTV and the
expansion of broadband services to Telenor's markets increase the need for
several more transponders to accommodate growth in these emerging applications.
Orbital provides an efficient and reliable solution for Telenor to meet these
expanding market requirements in our broadcasting business."
Since the late 1990's, Orbital has received orders for 15 GEO satellites.
This contract with Telenor is the third firm GEO satellite order Orbital has
received this year. Earlier in 2005, Orbital received an order for its GEO
satellites from PanAmSat Corporation for the PAS-11 spacecraft and also received
an order from a joint venture between PanAmSat and JSAT Corporation of Japan for
the Horizons-2 satellite.
About Telenor
Telenor ASA is an international telecommunications provider, headquartered in
Norway. Telenor is the largest provider of telecommunication services in Norway
and is among the 12 largest GSM mobile operators in the world. Telenor has a
total of 22,400 full time employees, of which 11,100 are located outside Norway.
Telenor owns and operates two satellites, THOR II and THOR III, focused on the
Nordic, and Central and Eastern European markets, as well as owning capacity on
the Intelsat 10-02 satellite which provides additional coverage over Europe and
the Middle East.
Telenor Satellite Broadcasting provides extensive television broadcasting
services for distribution, contribution and occasional applications to Canal
Digital, all the Nordic Broadcasters and many other broadcasters throughout
Europe, using its hybrid network comprised of (three) satellites, terrestrial
circuits, (two) international teleports and (four) remote earth stations.
Additionally, it provides fixed satellite communication and uplinking services
for data and remote Internet applications together with VSAT and broadband
services in Europe and the Middle East.
For more information, visit the company's web site at www.telenor.com and
www.telenorsbc.com
About Orbital
Orbital develops and manufactures small space systems for commercial, civil
government and military customers. The company's primary products are satellites
and launch vehicles, including low-orbit, geostationary and planetary spacecraft
for communications, remote sensing and scientific missions; ground- and
air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense
boosters that are used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also offers
space-related technical services to government agencies and develops and builds
satellite-based transportation management systems for public transit agencies
and private vehicle fleet operators.
More information about Orbital can be found at http://www.orbital.com
For More Information Please Contact:
Telenor: Cato Halsaa Managing Director +47 900 47 007 cato.halsaa@telenor.com
Orbital: Barron Beneski Public and Investor Relations (703) 406-5528
beneski.barron@orbital.com