Our History Highlights

2 April 2019: successful launch of 4 O3b satellites, completing our first-generation MEO constellation.

Using our unique multi­orbit network to extend the reach of telco, mobile and cloud infrastructure, we deployed ‘life­changing’ broadband and mobile services; meaningfully improving connectivity for people in rural areas all over the world including Burkina Faso, Columbia, Indonesia and Pakistan.

SES-10 became the first geostationary satellite to be launched on a SpaceX flight-proven Falcon 9 rocket, paving the way for the space industry and other operators to embrace reusability.

With the O3b constellation taking SES Networks to new heights, we ordered O3b mPOWER—our next-generation medium earth orbit (MEO) constellation that will enable us to deliver more connectivity within the data business.

SES proved its worth in the broadcasting industry once again when we launched the world’s first global Ultra HD channel – Fashion One 4K. In collaboration with Fashion One Television LLC, we rolled out a fully-managed 4k playout as well as ground segment and distribution services across North America, South America and Europe.

In 2013, O3b Networks launched its highly-anticipated first batch of four Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites, offering data services to companies all over the world. SES-8 was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida on 3 December, making it the first commercial satellite to be launched by American aerospace giant Space X.

Off the back of several acquisitions, a merged brand powerhouse was born – SES. Complete with a new management team, we extended our fleet; launching five satellites and payloads: Yahsat 1A, QuetzSat-1, SES-3, ASTRA 1N and SES-2.

Despite the global economic downturn, we continued to make our presence felt among the world’s emerging markets. In Asia, we grew our reach to deliver five direct-to-home platforms made up of hundreds of TV channels and 27 million subscribers.

By the close of the year, SES has finalised a complex split-off transaction with General Electric (GE), buying out GE’s 19.5% stake in the company and allowing us to optimise our portfolio of assets.

We also announce a ground-breaking partnership with launch services providers Arianaspace (signature ceremony pictured above) and International Launch Services (ILS) taking our offering to new heights.

The year opens with SES’ entry into major indices at the Euronext Paris stock exchange, where the company was listed in 2004. Parallel to our diversified growth strategy, we steadily expand our service offering to go beyond basic satellite capacity leasing.

With this new direction, we ramp up our provision of connectivity solutions and services to governments all over the globe; in particular, the US Government and military who are served by a dedicated SES division.

SES reaches two major milestones this year putting us firmly on the map. SES Americom forges a multi-year strategic partnership with EchoStar, granting long-term satellite capacity to the company’s DISH Network and linking North America’s leading satellite operator with the US’ largest DTH network.

Across the pond, SES Astra announces the launch of its first ever HD channel set to reach the homes of thousands of Europeans the following year.

SES now has footholds in every major regional market bar one: North America. Over the course of the year, we complete a complex transaction acquiring General Electric (GE) Americom in full, including eight satellites serving the North American market. The newly titled SES Americom makes SES the world’s largest satellite operator overnight – complete with a 40-strong fleet.

Nonetheless, we stay true to our roots – Europe remains SES’ core market where it continues to operate as SES Astra.

The countdown to the millennium is on and SES takes its first steps to transition from a single-market, single-product business to a global operator. Following the successful IPO in 1998, we now have the necessary financial muscle to launch our acquisition strategy, taking a 34.10% cut in the Hong Kong-based satellite company AsiaSat.

Back in Europe, the launch of Astra 1H sees SES become one of the first satellite operators to offer commercial Ka-band capacity – the cherry on top of a great year.

The start of the year saw ILS Proton send three more Astra satellites up into space, hot on the heels of Astra 1F. Aware of the increasing global demand for satellite services, the benefits of an additional launch provider quickly became the topic of conversation around the SES lunch table.

The age of digitalisation was important to us for two key reasons - not only did it represent a huge leap towards improving signal and picture quality, digital technology also allowed signals to be compressed so that many more channels could be transmitted via one transponder. In 1995, digitalisation became the essential ingredient for the channel explosion that followed, as well as the enabler for future quality enhancements, most importantly, high-definition TV.

The last half of the year brought with it more developments and more opportunities for success. The “Television Without Frontiers” Directive, today the cornerstone of the European Union’s audiovisual policy, came into force allowing the free movement of programmes – fitting perfectly with SES’s ambitions to serve all of Europe’s major markets.

Rupert Murdoch’s Sky TV became the first major private broadcaster to sign up to Astra in June 1988. They didn’t hang about – booking four transponders on Astra 1A via a ten-year deal, with the satellite due for take-off at the end of the year. British electronics company, Amstrad, was selected to manufacture the dishes and decoders.

The falling prices of satellite reception equipment at the time would fuel Astra’s success, and convince customers and investors alike that there would be large audiences waiting to receive their programming.