Ciel Satellite Announces Alcatel Alenia Space Will Build Ciel-2 Satellite; First Ciel Satellite to be Constructed for 2008 Launch

Alcatel will build the Spacebus 4000 C4 spacecraft based on proventechnology that has been utilized in four successfully deployedsatellites. The C4 will the largest Spacebus class satellite everbuilt. A number of innovations will also complement the design; theall Ku-band satellite will feature high frequency re-use and bothregional and spot beams. The Ciel-2 satellite is scheduled to launchin late 2008 and to operate for at least 16 years. Ciel Satellite wasawarded the license for 129 degrees West from Industry Canada inOctober 2004.

"Ciel is pleased to begin construction of the first new satellitein its fleet -- one for which we have high expectations for thisspacecraft. Alcatel is recognized as a world-class satellitemanufacturer and we expect Ciel-2 to deliver outstanding performancein Canada and elsewhere in North America," said Kevin Smyth, CEO, CielSatellite.

"Ciel-2 will be the first of many spacecraft we hope to bring intoservice to the benefit of Canadian and North American customers, andwe are pleased to note that Canadian subcontractors, including ComDev,will be participating in this satellite's construction," said DaveLewis, President and COO, Ciel Satellite.

Pascale Sourisse, President and CEO, Alcatel Alenia Space, added,"The demands from the Ciel procurement team were ambitious andrigorous, so we are doubly delighted to have earned this contractaward for Ciel-2."

About Ciel Satellite

Ciel Satellite LP is Canada's independent satellite facilitiesoperator. Ciel was founded in 2004, received preliminary authorizationto operate a satellite at 129 degrees West that same year, and begancommercial operations in August 2005. The partners and shareholders inthe Ciel venture are: BPC Telecommunications Corporation, owned byOMERS, one of Canada's largest pension funds, with more than $40billion in assets; Ottawa-based Smyth Satellite Holdings Ltd., aCanadian satellite and telecommunications company established by KevinSmyth and Gerry Wall, Ph.D.; 620582 NB Ltd., an investment company ledby Brian Neill, the founder and former chairman of Star ChoiceCommunications Inc.; and SES GLOBAL S.A. (PINK SHEETS:SGBAF)(EURONEXT:SESG) (LuxX:SESG), which owns SES ASTRA in Europe, and SESAMERICOM in the US, and holds strategic investments in AsiaSat inAsia, Ciel in Canada, NSAB in Europe, and Star One in Latin America.