BADR-4 LAUNCHED SUCCESSFULLY!

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, Nov. 9, 2006

A Russian-built Proton/Breeze-M vehicle provided by International Launch Services (ILS) successfully launched a satellite today that will carry direct-to-home television services, together with voice and broadband services, across the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Europe.

The Proton launcher lifted off at 2:01 a.m. local time in Baikonur (3:01 p.m. Wednesday EST, 20:01 Wednesday GMT). It carried the BADR-4 satellite built by EADS-Astrium, which contracted for the launch on behalf of the Arab Satellite Communications Organization, ARABSAT, headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Mr.Khalid Balkheyour, ARABSAT's President CEO, declared

Thanks to the superb combined performance of the Proton launcher and Astrium design and manufacturing, BADR-4 is now the most state-of-the-art satellite to serve the MENA region, providing the 130 million viewers already watching our 26 degrees East video 'hot spot' with an unrivalled level of in-orbit reliability and back-up, as well as unprecedented reach serving all of the 324 million inhabitants now fully covered from Morocco and Algeria to the Arabian Gulf with the highest power ever,"

Antoine Bouvier, Astrium chairman and chief executive officer, said: "I am delighted that ARABSAT's BADR-4 has been injected into transfer orbit by ILS. Astrium has worked tirelessly to ensure that this latest significant step in the development of ARABSAT's business is a resounding success. We look forward to continuing our fruitful relationship with ARABSAT."

Mr.Balkheyour concluded “The successful launch of BADR-4 represents the realization of a critical milestone in ARABSAT's new strategic deployment, as well as the company's steadfast commitment to consolidating its historical position as the leading operator of Direct-To-Home services in the Middle East and North Africa region since 30 years.”