New Skies and KMS/FalconStream partner in multi-transponder deal to deliver Internet services to the Middle East
THE HAGUE, Netherlands, May 5, 2003 – New Skies Satellites N.V. (AEX, NYSE:
NSK), the global satellite communications company, and KMS (Kuwait Messaging
Services)/FalconStream, a Kuwaiti information technology firm that provides
Internet connectivity services via satellite, today announced a long-term
multi-transponder, multi-satellite agreement to offer high-speed Internet
access services to more than 2,000 customer sites throughout the Middle
East, the Indian Subcontinent and North Africa.
KMS/FalconStream is using Ku-band capacity on the NSS-6 satellite to deliver
Internet traffic, via New Skies’ IPsys Internet connectivity services,
directly to end users as well as businesses, ISPs and telecom companies
across the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent. Internet content
transmissions originate from New Skies’ IP hub, which the company utilizes
through a partnership agreement with REACH to provide communications
services across the entire Middle East/Asian region.
KMS/FalconStream also has selected the NSS-7 Atlantic Ocean region satellite
for complementary and extended IPsys Internet connectivity services
throughout the Middle East and North Africa. KMS/FalconStream links directly
to the North American Internet backbone via New Skies’ Washington D.C.
mediaport.
Mr. Khalid Derbas, KMS/FalconStream’s deputy general manager, said: “We were
extremely impressed by the comprehensive Middle Eastern coverage, technical
characteristics and flexibility of New Skies’ NSS-6 satellite, as well as
the complementary, high-power coverage of NSS-7. These satellites will allow
us to extend the delivery of high-speed, broadband Internet connections to
virtually anyone, anywhere within the region, while offering a level of
confidence and reliability unmatched by terrestrial alternatives.”
Also, Mr. Ahmed Mekky, the operations/engineering director for
KMS/FalconStream, said: “We are very pleased with the technical support and
customer service that New Skies has offered us, especially with their
customer-managed platform capabilities. This allows us and our wholesale
distributors to manage the Quality of Service parameters of our end
customers.”
New Skies continues to increase its market share in the India, Middle East
and Africa (IMEA) region. Revenues from this region have more than tripled
over the past two years from $14.2 million in 2000 to $46.8 million in 2002,
and its importance as a percentage of total revenues has increased from 7
percent to 23 percent over the same period. New Skies serves Internet,
broadcast, and telecom customers in the IMEA region with its NSS-6, NSS-703
and NSS-7 satellites.
Hussein Oteifa, New Skies’ director for Middle East sales, said: “The
increasing flow of information and entertainment content in and out of the
Middle East is creating strong demand for reliable, high-power satellite
capacity. When combined with recent deregulation in the Indian Subcontinent
and continued development in Africa, the IMEA region represents one of the
fastest growing markets for fixed satellite services.
“Following the launch of NSS-6 and NSS-7, we now have three high-power
satellites providing Middle East coverage with excellent connectivities to
Asia-Pacific as well as Europe and North America. By combining New Skies’
technical expertise and strong customer focus with KMS/FalconStream’s
distribution channels and presence throughout the entire Middle East, we are
confident that this service will deliver dependable and secure access to the
Internet for consumers and businesses across the region.”
About NSS-6 and NSS-7
NSS-6 was launched on December 17, 2002, and is equipped with 60 x 36
MHz-equivalent Ku-band transponders. From 95 degrees east longitude, its six
broad Ku-band beams offer expansive coverage of India, China, the Middle
East (including Cyprus and Southern Africa), Australia, Southeast Asia and
Northeast Asia. NSS-7 features 49 C-band and 48 Ku-band 36 MHz-equivalent
transponders. Eleven high-powered coverage beams broadcast video, Internet
and data traffic throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and
Africa. NSS-7 was launched on April 16, 2002, and operates from 338 degrees
east longitude.
The two satellites are capable of delivering virtually any type of
communications services, including video distribution and contribution,
direct-to-home broadcasts, Internet backbone connectivity, corporate
enterprise networking, telephony and data transmissions, and emerging
broadband applications.
About New Skies Satellites
New Skies Satellites (AEX, NYSE: NSK) is one of only four fixed satellite
communications companies with truly global satellite coverage, offering
video, voice, data and Internet communications services to a range of
telecommunications carriers, broadcasters, large corporations and Internet
service providers around the world. New Skies has six satellites in orbit,
ground facilities around the world and one additional spacecraft under
construction. The company also has secured certain rights to make use of
additional orbital positions for future growth. New Skies is headquartered
in The Hague, The Netherlands, and has offices in Beijing, Hong Kong,
Johannesburg, New Delhi, São Paulo, Singapore, Sydney and Washington, D.C.
Additional information is available at www.newskies.com.
About KMS/FalconStream
KMS/FalconStream, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Kuwait Messaging Services
Company (KMSC), commenced commercial operations in January 2000. In the
first three months of commercial service, KMS/FalconStream entered the
markets of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Yemen, Algeria, Jordan, and Egypt.
KMS/FalconStream attributes its beginnings to the primary mission of KMSC to
provide management consulting, systems integration, and professional
services in information technology, data communications services and
high-speed Internet services via satellite.
