SES Americom Launches Competition to Identify ''New Solutions'' to Advance Communications via Satellite

PRINCETON, N.J., April 5, 2006/Satnews Daily/ —  SES Americom, an SES Global company (Luxembourg and Euronext Paris exchanges:SESG), has launched a new annual award program aimed at identifying commercially viable ideas and concepts that show promise of advancing communications satellite technology and services.

Named for Sir Arthur C. Clarke, the program will award $50,000 to the winning college or university student or student team that best defines a feasible technical or applications concept that might leapfrog the existing state of development of the industry.

Edward Horowitz, president and CEO of SES Americom, said the Clarke Challenge sets the stage for an exciting and vibrant competition among the best minds in academia today.

“Through the Clarke Challenge, we hope to draw out the most imaginative ideas, while at the same time, putting a spotlight on the growth potential of our industry,” he said.

Sir Arthur is known worldwide as the author of 2001: A Space Odyssey and dozens of other acclaimed works of science fact and science fiction. He is equally recognized in global scientific and engineering circles as the genius who first proposed communications satellites in geosynchronous orbit.

Speaking from his home in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sir Arthur said, “Sometimes it's hard to see just how far a good idea can go.” He added he is delighted that SES Americom has created a Challenge for young people to advance the state of satellite communications.

Application details on the program can be found on the Americom web site.

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