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Thaicom 5 satellite, built by Alcatel Alenia Space, arrives at launch site in French Guiana

24 April 2006

The Thaicom 5 communications satellite, built by Alcatel Alenia Space as prime contractor, arrived April 22 at the launch site in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch by an Ariane 5 ECA is slated for May 26. Thaicom 5 is the second satellite built by Alcatel Alenia Space for Thailand.

Thaicom 5 was made for Thai satellite operator Shin Satellite Inc. Positioned at 78.5 degrees East, Thaicom 5 will provide broadband telecommunications and broadcast transmission services. It will enable Shin Satellite to replace the Thaicom 1 and 2 satellites (reaching end-of-life in 2008 and 2009), while increasing its Ku-band transmission capacity for Thailand and neighbouring countries.

The Thaicom 5 satellite is based on the Spacebus platform, which has logged extensive experience in orbit. It will weigh about 2,800 kg at launch, offering total power of 5 kW, with 14 Ku-band channel and 24 K-band channels.

Alcatel Alenia Space is enjoying a particular busy year for launches in 2006. The company is prime contractor for 10 communications and Earth observation satellites launched during the year: Hot BirdTM7A, Calipso, Thaicom 5, Syracuse 3B, Koreasat 5, Rascom, Galaxy 17, Corot, Giove B, StarOne C1. In addition, seven other satellites are carrying payloads made by Alcatel Alenia Space: Arabsat 4A, Arabsat 4B, SarLupe, IASI, MTSAT 2, XM4, Goce.

About Alcatel Alenia Space
Alcatel Alenia Space is the European leader in satellite systems, at the forefront of orbit infrastructures. Created in July 2005, the company brings together the vast experience and know-how of Alcatel Space and Alenia Spazio to form a new leading force in European space technology. Alcatel Alenia Space represents a worldwide standard for space development that impacts everybody's future: from navigation to telecommunications, from meteorology to environmental monitoring, from defence to science and observation. Alcatel Alenia Space is an Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) (67%) and Finmeccanica (Milan:SIFI.MI, FNC.IM) (33%) company.