SES S.A. has announced that it is expanding the reach of its satellite-based broadband service ASTRA2Connect to Africa through a signed agreement with Intersat Africa, the leading provider of satellite-based internet services on the continent. The service, which will start in January 2010, will be offered to households, small and medium enterprises as well as schools.

With capacity coming from SES WORLD SKIES' NSS-12 satellite, Intersat Africa will use the proven satellite broadband platform to introduce cost efficient, interactive satellite-based broadband services to the African market. ASTRA2Connect will be sold in ten countries in East and Central Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Newtec, a highly experienced manufacturer of state-of-the-art satellite equipment and a long-term partner for ASTRA2Connect will supply Intersat Africa with the respective satellite broadband user terminals based on the award-winning Sat3Play technology.

ASTRA2Connect offers customers in regions without terrestrial broadband networks an easy, reliable and cost-efficient solution to access the internet through an always-on interactive broadband connection for a flat service fee. The customer premises equipment - a modem and a satellite dish - is low cost and delivered with a unique PointandPlay tool for easy self-installation.

ASTRA2Connect was first marketed in early 2007 and is already available in 14 countries throughout Europe. The service is marketed via wholesalers and internet service providers.

"Our agreement with Intersat Africa marks a milestone for the roll-out of ASTRA2Connect beyond Europe,and we are very proud that we are now able to offer our service in a dynamic market such as East and Central Africa," said Norbert Willems, Managing Director at ASTRA Broadband Services S.A.

"Stable and cost-efficient broadband connections are important for economic growth and social wealth, and ASTRA2Connect is an ideal solution for all households in Africa which have so far been excluded from the digital revolution."

"Our strategic partnership with SES ASTRA and SES WORLD SKIES opens new horizons for delivering internet service to the masses in rural Africa," said Abdul Bakhrani, CEO of Intersat Africa.

"East Africa has recently been connected to the Information Superhighway on submarine fibre, but unfortunately only the users in urban areas will benefit from this internet revolution. The last mile connectivity is still a challenge and this is where SES' broadband service and satellite capacity fit in. The ASTRA2Connect service also complements our Rural Internet Kiosk (RIK) programme which will empower thousands of Africans with high speed internet."

"We are very proud to team up with Intersat Africa and SES in order to provide East and Central Africa with the ASTRA2Connect service," said Serge van Heck, CEO at Newtec. "End consumers will benefit from Newtec's high performing Sat3Play Broadband Consumer Terminal, offering everyone without terrestrial internet infrastructure a real broadband experience."