PanAmSat Launches Into the New Millennium: Galaxy XI Satellite Successfully Placed in Orbit - Company Business and Marketing

Cambridge Telcom Report, Dec 27, 1999

PanAmSat Corporation Tuesday announced that its advanced Galaxy XI spacecraft has been successfully lofted into orbit, becoming the largest commercial communications satellite ever launched. Galaxy XI, PanAmSat's 20th satellite, will offer video, Internet and telecommunications services throughout North America and Brazil. The launch marks the beginning of PanAmSat's comprehensive satellite expansion and backup plan that will grow the company's fleet to 25 satellites by mid-2001.

Galaxy XI, which contains 40 Ku-band and 24 C-band transponders, lifted off Tuesday from the Guiana Space Center aboard an Ariane rocket at 9: 50 p.m. local time (7: 50 p.m. Eastern Standard Time). The 4,500-kilogram satellite will initially be located at 99 degrees west longitude and then will migrate to 91 degrees west longitude, becoming an integral component of the Galaxy cable neighborhood. Along with the current Galaxy IR, V and IX satellites as well as the upcoming Galaxy XR spacecraft, Galaxy XI will deliver cable television's most popular programming to cable headends throughout North America. Galaxy XI was PanAmSat's 14th Ariane launch.

"With Tuesday's launch of Galaxy XI, PanAmSat successfully begins its deployment of seven additional high-power satellites and also sets a new standard in satellite communications services," said R. Douglas Kahn, PanAmSat's president and chief executive officer. "Galaxy XI will increase the company's transmission capabilities throughout North America as well as enable PanAmSat to provide seamless backup services to the company's Galaxy customers."

Following Galaxy XI's launch to 99 degrees west longitude, the Galaxy VI satellite will migrate from that orbital location to 91 degrees west longitude to provide backup services for Galaxy VII. Galaxy XI, with its extensive communications payload, will maintain the highest-quality C-band services and also establish Ku-band services at 99 degrees west longitude for PanAmSat's telecommunications customers throughout North America.

PanAmSat will follow Tuesday's successful deployment of Galaxy XI with the scheduled liftoff of Galaxy XR in January 2000. Galaxy XR will launch from French Guiana aboard an Ariane rocket on a mission to become PanAmSat's fifth satellite in the Galaxy cable neighborhood. Galaxy XR will be located at 123 degrees west longitude.

Also in the first quarter of 2000, PanAmSat is scheduled to launch Galaxy IVR. The satellite will be placed into service at 99 degrees west longitude, and Galaxy XI will then transition to its permanent location at 91 degrees west longitude. From this orbital location, Galaxy XI will serve as the long-term replacement for Galaxy VII, delivering high-profile programming from Discovery, Disney, Encore, Fox Sports, Independent Film Channel, The Golf Channel, The WB Network and others. Galaxy VI will then serve as an in-orbit spare at 74 degrees west longitude for the Galaxy cable neighborhood, ensuring seamless C-band backup capabilities.

A diagram of PanAmSat's upcoming Galaxy fleet deployment plan can be accessed at http://www.panamsat.com/comp/sheets/GalaxyRedeployment.pdf.

PanAmSat's satellite deployment plan also calls for the launch of four international spacecraft within the next 18 months. PAS-1R and PAS-9 are scheduled for launch in the second quarter of 2000. The PAS-10 satellite launch has been changed to the fourth quarter of 2000. PanAmSat's final launch in its comprehensive satellite expansion and backup plan will be Galaxy IIIC, set for liftoff in the second quarter of 2001.

The following chart provides a summary of PanAmSat's current launch schedule:

Satellite         Spacecraft Model  Launch Date    Launch Vehicles
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Galaxy XR         HS 601 HP         January 2000     Ariane
Galaxy IVR        HS 601 HP         1Q 2000          Ariane
PAS-1R            HS 702            2Q 2000          Ariane
PAS-9             HS 601 HP         2Q 2000          Sea Launch
PAS-10            HS 601 HP         4Q 2000          Proton
Galaxy IIIC       HS 702            2Q 2001          TBD

With the launch of the seven new domestic U.S. and international satellites, PanAmSat will operate a global fleet of 25 satellites by mid-2001, the largest geostationary communications satellite fleet in the world.

PanAmSat is the world's leading commercial provider of global satellite-based communications services. The company operates a global network of 20 satellites supported by PanAmSat professionals on five continents. These resources enable PanAmSat to provide video, Internet and telecommunications services to hundreds of customers worldwide. PanAmSat plans to launch six additional satellites by mid-2001. For more information on the company and its services, visit the PanAmSat web site at http://www.panamsat.com.