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Thaicom 5 satellite, built by Alcatel Alenia Space, successfully launched

29 May 2006

The Thaicom 5 communications satellite, built by Alcatel Alenia Space as prime contractor, has been successfully launched Saturday by an Ariane 5 ECA from Kourou, French Guiana. 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 channels and 24 K-band channels.

Dr. Nongluck Phinainitisart, President of Shin Satellite Inc. said, "Alcatel Alenia Space has done an excellent job of constructing the Thaicom 5 satellite in a very short time. We appreciate the close cooperation they have shown us. Constructing an instrument as complex and technologically advanced as a satellite is not something many companies in the world can do, and we at Shin Satellite are satisfied that Alcatel Alenia Space is one of the best satellite manufacturers in the world."

Alcatel Alenia Space has operated in Asia for a number of years, developing strong business in many countries. It has sold latest-generation satellites to operators in these countries to support their ongoing development. For Alcatel Alenia Space, Asia is a springboard to growth, based on the emergence of new services such as emergency communications for risk management, government communications, high-definition TV and mobile TV transmissions.

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.