Timeline

  • 2012

    • 2012 was a year of innovation writ large. In April, SES unveiled SAT>IP, in November, announced a cooperation with the European Space Agency and the establishment of a partnership aimed at developing a full-electric propulsion satellite platform manufactured in Europe and in December, inaugurated its Ka-band HTS service, with SES Broadband providing the first 20 Mbps download speed in France.

  • 2011

    • SES extends and renews its fleet through the successful launch of five satellites and payloads: the YahLive payload on Yahsat 1A, QuetzSat-1, SES-3, ASTRA 1N and SES-2.
    • SES consolidates its operations under a new streamlined management structure and one brand – SES.

  • 2010

    • SES has the largest satellite investment and procurement programme in the industry.

  • 2009

    • SES announces an investment in O3b Networks and enters a partnership with Yahsat to offer direct-to-home (DTH) TV in the Middle East, North Africa and South West Asia.

  • 2008

    • SES combines the AMERICOM and NEW SKIES segments into a single new division, called SES WORLD SKIES.

  • 2007

    • SES secures flexible access to space by signing a ground-breaking agreement with launch services providers Arianespace and International Launch Services (ILS).

  • 2006

    • SES acquires New Skies Satellites and achieves coverage of 99% of the world’s population.
    • SES introduces ASTRA2Connect as a ‘triple play’ service via satellite, and announces an investment in Solaris Mobile.

  • 2005

    • SES expands beyond capacity leasing to offer satellite solutions and services with two subsidiaries, ASTRA Platform Services and ASTRA TechCom. In the US, it provides services to the US government through a dedicated division. SES announces participations in Ciel and QuetzSat.

  • 2004

    • SES AMERICOM and SES ASTRA are the first satellite operators to carry HDTV signals in the US and Europe respectively.

  • 2003

    • SES AMERICOM forms a strategic partnership with the largest DTH network of the US, EchoStar’s Dish network.

  • 2002

    • President and CEO Romain Bausch is named Satellite Executive of the Year.
    • SES suffers its first ever launch failure when a Proton rocket carrying ASTRA 1K fails to reach orbit.

  • 2001

    • SES establishes a foothold in the North American market with the acquisition of GE Americom.

  • 2000

    • Participations in NSAB (Nordic Satellite company) of Sweden and the Brazilian operator, Star One extend SES' reach to 79% of the world’s population.

  • 1999

    • SES takes the first step to become a global operator with a 34.10% participation in the Asian satellite operator AsiaSat.

  • 1998

    • SES opens a second orbital slot at 28.2° East with ASTRA 2A. The new orbital location provides coverage for the UK and Ireland.
    • SES becomes a public company and lists on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange in July under the ticker symbol 'SESG'.

  • 1997

    • SES starts offering two-way broadband services via satellite.

  • 1996

    • SES becomes the first commercial western satellite operator to launch a satellite on a Russian Proton rocket. ASTRA 1F is successfully launched from Baikonour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on 8 April 1996.

  • 1995

    • SES inaugurates a state-of-the-art digital technical facility for the reception, monitoring, multiplexing, encryption and uplinking of hundreds of digital channels on the ASTRA system and sets the stage to kickstart the digital broadcasting revolution.

  • 1994

    • SES implements 'co-location': two or more satellite occupy the same orbital slot, making it possible to expand channel offering, provide back-up capacity and redundancy.

  • 1991

    • SES launches ASTRA 1B in March 1991 to meet increasing demand for satellite capacity.

  • 1990

    • ASTRA reaches 16.6 million cable and direct-to-home (DTH) households in Europe, marking the beginning of the DTH revolution.

  • 1989

    • ASTRA 1A begins transmitting on 5 February 1989 from 19.2° East.
    • The fall of the Berlin Wall creates an urgent need for West German broadcasters to reach 15 million new citizens in former East Germany. In December, the commercial broadcasters Pro 7, Sat 1, RTL, Television and Teleclub launch on ASTRA 1A.

  • 1988

    • Rupert Murdoch's Sky TV becomes the first major private broadcaster to sign up to ASTRA in June 1988.
    • ASTRA 1A is launched on ARIANE 4 on 10 December 1988.

  • 1987

    • The Betzdorf Satellite Control Facility (SCF) becomes operational in July 1987.

  • 1986

    • In May 1986 construction work begins on the satellite control facility (SCF) in Betzdorf.
    • A launch failure grounds the Ariane 4 rocket indefinitely and delays the planned launch of the first ASTRA satellite which is configured to reach millions of homes in Europe.

  • 1985

    • SES is founded as Europe’s first private satellite operator in Luxembourg on 1 March 1985.
    • SES signs a launch agreement with Arianespace for ASTRA 1A on 15 November 1985.
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