BBC Uses Siemens, Eutelsat

LONDON and PARIS -- Siemens Business Services today announced that it has signed a three year contract with Eutelsat for satellite capacity over the UK, continental Europe and the Middle East on behalf of the BBC. The contract which extends an existing 12 month deal, guarantees Siemens a long term lease of 72MHz on Eutelsat's ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 1 satellite for the BBC which requires quick access to contribution capacity at times of peak demand and from remote locations.

Siemens' relationship with Eutelsat ensures that the BBC, including BBC News and BBC Nations & Regions, will continue to be provided with the highest-quality satellite contribution capacity within the industry. Siemens will use its ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 1 transponder to operate 12 digital carriers which the BBC will use to contribute up to 105,000 channel hours per year. Although used predominantly for SNG (satellite newsgathering) in Europe and the Middle East, the BBC will also be able to use the capacity to support and investigate new technologies, such as HDTV and to deliver IP-based communications and services, reinforcing many of the mobile working initiatives within the organisation.

Barry Yard, executive director, BBC account, Siemens Business Services, comments, "Thanks to the new contract with Eutelsat, Siemens will continue to offer the BBC competitive and flexible satellite bandwidth capacity. Other broadcast customers will also have the ability to buy satellite capacity during quiet periods of use."

Olivier Millies-Lacroix, Eutelsat Commercial Director adds, "Eutelsat is committed to providing capacity solutions and services to customers such as Siemens, and we are delighted to have strengthened our relationship by converting an initial one year contract into a three year fixed deal. We will continue to provide Siemens and its media partners with the highest quality service within the industry and look forward to enabling innovation within the BBC."

Siemens Business Services

Eutelsat Communications S.A.