Telenor ASA signs contract for new communications satellite

Nordic Business Report, April 24, 2007

NORDIC BUSINESS REPORT-24 April 2007-Telenor ASA signs contract for new communications satellite(C)1994-2007 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD http://www.m2.com

Norwegian telecomms group Telenor ASA said on Tuesday (24 April) that it has signed a contract with Thales Alenia Space for the construction and delivery of a new geosynchronous (GEO) communications satellite.

The satellite, to be called THOR 6, will provide high power direct-to-home (DTH) television services, the company said.

THOR 6 is the final satellite in Telenor Satellite Broadcasting's replacement programme for THOR II and THOR III. THOR 6 will replace THOR III, which is set to retire in 2010.

Thales Alenia Space will be responsible for the design, construction and test activities for THOR 6, Telenor said.

Thales Alenia Space is owned by Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%) and forms with Telespazio, the 'Space Alliance'. Thales Alenia Space is located in France, Italy, Spain and Belgium.

Telenor is one of the world's largest mobile operators, with nearly 83m subscribers in 12 countries. The group is also the largest provider of television services in the Nordic region. Telenor has some 27,600 employees and annual revenues of nearly NOK70bn. Telenor is listed on Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker TEL and on Nasdaq under the ticker TELN.

One British pound (GBP) is worth approximately 11.95 Norwegian kroner (NOK).

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