[SatNews] the Company is well positioned to ensure the continuing development of Mobile Satellite Services across the European Union.

SES (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) and Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL) announce that they have completed the sale to EchoStar Corp. (NASDAQ: SATS) of Solaris Mobile Ltd.

EchoStar Corp. (NASDAQ: SATS) acquired 100 percent ownership of Solaris Mobile Ltd., a next-generation mobile satellite services (MSS) jointly-owned company based in Dublin, Ireland. The company is one of the European Union licensees of mobile satellite service with a complementary ground component (S-band) based in Dublin, set up to develop next-generation Mobile Satellite Services (MSS)

Solaris Mobile Ltd is deploying a satellite and terrestrial network for wholesale access to enhanced mobile communications across Europe in the 30 MHz S band licensed to Solaris Mobile.  In connection with the acquisition, EchoStar has entered into an agreement with Solaris Mobile to provide it with MSS capacity on a new next-generation MSS satellite.

“Through this acquisition and our mobile satellite infrastructure expertise, we look forward to accelerating advanced mobile services throughout the European Union,” said Anders Johnson, president, EchoStar Satellite Services. “We are excited to build upon the groundwork laid by Solaris Mobile by most immediately bringing with us access to a next generation MSS satellite which will support a wide range of innovative services across the European Union.”

Solaris Mobile is one of the European Union licensees of mobile satellite services with a complementary ground component (S-band). As an experienced operator already familiar with the S-band environment and business potential, Echostar is well positioned to ensure the continuing development of Mobile Satellite Services across the European Union. The terms of the sale agreement remain confidential.