Markus Payer Joins SES ASTRA As Vice President Media Relations

Ferdinand Kayser says about his new hire: "Having Markus on boardwith SES ASTRA will allow us to strengthen and deepen ourrelationships with the press and media in Europe. We have interestingand challenging times ahead, and Markus will be instrumental inhelping to position our company as the leading satellite-centricnetwork services provider in the EMEA region."

Markus has many years of professional experience in the mediaindustry and as a journalist. From 1999 to 2004, he was Spokesman,Head of Media Relations and Vice President Media Relations atBertelsmann AG and RTL Group SA, Europe's leading broadcastingcompany. In these positions, he was based at Bertelsmann's CorporateCenter in Guetersloh, Germany, and at RTL Group's headquarters inLuxembourg. Between 1993 and 1998, Markus worked as reporter andeditor at Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) in Frankfurt, and atReuters, also based in Frankfurt, reporting on the international mediaand advertising industry. Since 2004, Markus has been responsible forglobal media relations at one of the world's largest agrochemicalcompanies, Syngenta AG, based in Basel, Switzerland.

Markus holds degrees in German and French Literature as well asPhilosophy from the Johann-Wolfgang-von-Goethe-University inFrankfurt, Universite Paris and College International de Philosophiein Paris. Markus was born and brought up in Hamburg, Germany. He ismarried with one daughter.

About SES ASTRA www.ses-astra.com

The ASTRA Satellite System is the leading Direct-to-Home (DTH)satellite system in Europe, delivering services to more than 103million Direct-to-Home and cable households. The ASTRA satellite fleetcurrently comprises 13 satellites, transmitting in excess of 1400analogue and digital television and radio channels as well asmultimedia and Internet services. ASTRA's two prime orbital positionsfor DTH services are 19.2 degrees East and 28.2 degrees East.Professional services such as Direct-to cable (DTC), SatelliteNewsgathering (SNG) and Occasional Use are offered from the orbitalposition of 23.5 degrees East.

SES ASTRA is an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and LuxembourgStock Exchange: SESG). SES GLOBAL wholly owns two market-leadingsatellite operators, SES ASTRA in Europe, and SES AMERICOM in the US.The Company also holds strategic participations in AsiaSat in Asia,Star One and Nahuelsat in Latin America, and NSAB in Europe. AmericomGovernment Services provides network solutions and bandwidth to the USgovernment and its contractors. SES GLOBAL can provide outstandingsatellite communications solutions via a fleet of 38 satellites acrossthe globe. In addition, SES GLOBAL is a shareholder in ORBCOMM, aprovider of wireless data communications services through a low-earthorbit (LEO) satellite network, and in satellite technology company NDSatcom. SES GLOBAL is also a founding shareholder in SATLYNX which hascreated an unrivalled portfolio of reliable and cost-efficient two-waysatellite broadband service solutions to enterprises/corporates, smalloffice/home office (SOHO) users and local communities all over Europe.Additional info on SES GLOBAL at: www.ses-global.com.