Intelsat 14 Launch Successful; Offers Fresh Capacity Which Will Serve Three Regions

PEMBROKE, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Intelsat, Ltd., the world’s leading provider of fixed satellite services, announced today that an Atlas V rocket provided by United Launch Alliance successfully launched the Intelsat 14 satellite (IS-14). Liftoff of the Atlas V 431 configuration booster occurred at 1:55 a.m. ET, followed by signal acquisition and spacecraft separation nearly two hours later at 3:53 a.m. ET.

“Such hosted payload programs are prime examples of how governments can take advantage of commercial platforms to meet long-term communication requirements in an economical way”

The satellite, built by Space Systems/Loral, will provide high-powered data services through its C- and Ku-band payload to Intelsat customers throughout Latin America, Europe and Africa. Once IS-14 is operational, it will replace Intelsat’s 1R satellite at 315º E, providing customers with capacity that has a useful life slated to last the next 16 years.

“IS-14 kicks off our 11-satellite investment campaign, the largest in our company’s history. This satellite provides capacity for our growing network services and government customers,” said Dave McGlade, Intelsat CEO. “Our customers use our infrastructure as an essential component to deliver in-demand services that include cellular backhaul to enable wireless communications in remote regions, broadband networks for enterprise and oil and gas applications, and IP trunking services for Internet connectivity.”

IS-14 Carries IRIS Hosted Payload

The spacecraft also carries a hosted payload for the Internet Router in Space, or IRIS, program for Cisco.

“We believe IRIS will extend broadband services on demand in the sky. The Cisco IRIS payload will merge communications received on various frequency bands and transmit them to multiple users,” said Steve Boutelle, Vice President, Cisco Global Government Solutions Group. “Once in service, the IRIS payload will support network services for voice, video and data communications, enabling U.S. military units and allied forces to communicate with one another using Internet Protocol (IP) and existing ground equipment.”

“Such hosted payload programs are prime examples of how governments can take advantage of commercial platforms to meet long-term communication requirements in an economical way,” said Kay Sears, President, Intelsat General Corp.

About Intelsat

Intelsat is the leading provider of fixed satellite services worldwide. For 45 years, Intelsat has been delivering information and entertainment for many of the world’s leading media and network companies, multinational corporations, Internet service providers and governmental agencies. Intelsat’s satellite, teleport and fiber infrastructure is unmatched in the industry, setting the standard for transmissions of video, data and voice services. From the globalization of content and the proliferation of HD, to the expansion of cellular networks and broadband access, with Intelsat, advanced communications anywhere in the world are closer, by far.

Intelsat Safe Harbor Statement. Some of the statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. The forward-looking statements made in this release reflect Intelsat's intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, including known and unknown risks. Detailed information about some of the known risks is included in Intelsat's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended 31 December 2008 and Intelsat's other periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Because actual results could differ materially from Intelsat's intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about the future, you are urged to view all forward-looking statements contained in this news release with caution. Intelsat does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.