EUTELSAT and Deutsche Telekom AG signed an agreement in Paris today whereby Europe’s largest satellite operator will provide follow-on capacity for Deutsche Telekom’s DFS Kopernikus satellite at 28.5 degrees East via a new 24-transponder Ku-band satellite that will be launched by the end of the year 2000.

EUTELSAT’s follow-on satellite will encompass the same FSS frequencies (11.45 to 11.70 GHz and12.50 to 12.75 GHz) as those used by DFS Kopernikus at 28.5 degrees East. It will also carry FSS transponders in the 11.20 to 11.45 GHz range which will enable EUTELSAT to increase the offer available from 28.5 degrees East, notably for multimedia services.

“This agreement opens up opportunities for great synergies between EUTELSAT and Deutsche Telekom, our fourth largest user,” said Giuliano Berretta, EUTELSAT Director General. “In addition to providing Deutsche Telekom and other customers with long-term service commitment I see considerable growth potential for EUTELSAT at 28.5 degrees East, an orbital position where many services are already available, particularly in the high growth market of multimedia services, including high-speed Internet access and data broadcasting.”

“Today’s contract marks another important step forward in Deutsche Telekom’s satellite strategy and in establishing the best conditions for the expansion of business in the international marketplace”, said Gerd Tenzer, member of the Deutsche Telekom Board of Management and Head of the Network Technology Division. The principal applications for existing and future satellite systems are in the areas of television, radio and data broadcasting. Satellites are ideally suited for multimedia applications because of their high performance, optimal use of frequencies and broad coverage. This will enable Deutsche Telekom to expand even further its service offering.

With a fleet of 14 satellites Paris-based EUTELSAT ranks as one of the world’s leading satellite operators, delivering services to Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. In addition to pioneering the delivery of Internet backbone, push and cache services in Europe, EUTELSAT’s satellites broadcast more than 500 digital and analogue television channels to over 70 million satellite and cable homes, and are used for corporate networks, satellite newsgathering, telephony and mobile voice, data and positioning services.