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R/17/10

Eutelsat publishes on its website the official ITU release urging end
to deliberate jamming of satellite channels:

ITU Radio Regulations Board urges Iran to end interference hampering EUTELSAT satellite operations

Geneva, 26 March 2010 — The ITU Radio Regulations Board concluded its week-long deliberations today. Among the issues discussed was that of interference with radio signals from satellite networks operated by the European Satellite Organization, EUTELSAT.

The Administration of France, on behalf of the EUTELSAT satellite operator, notified the Radio Regulations Board (RRB) of the interference emanating from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran. While also considering correspondence from the Administration of Iran, the RRB determined that EUTELSAT satellite networks, operating in the orbital positions at 9E, 13E, 21.5E and 25.5E are receiving harmful interference. The Board noted that "the interfering signals appear to be of a nature that is prohibited under Radio Regulations No. 15.1".

The Radio Regulations Board concluded that the interference appeared to be emanating from the territory of Iran "based on measurements provided by the Administration of France, and having confidence in the measurement techniques and technologies used, because they are recognized in the ITU-R Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring".

The interference is reported to have persisted for some time, adversely affecting the operation of several EUTELSAT satellite transponders and channels. The Radio Regulations Board urged the Administration of Iran to continue its effort in locating the source of interference and to eliminate it as a matter of the highest priority.

The Administration of France and the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau have been called upon to assist the Administration of Iran in identifying the source of the interference.

The Radio Regulations Board is a part-time body comprising 12 members representing the world’s five regions: the Americas, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Among the Board’s responsibilities is to approve the technical criteria used by the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau in the application of Radio Regulations, to consider reports of harmful interference and to formulate recommendations for their resolution. If agreement cannot be reached between an administration and the Board on a Rule of Procedure, the matter is submitted to a World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) for ruling. The next WRC will be held January-February 2012.

The current Chairman of the Board is Mr Mindaugas Zilinskas of Lithuania.

Notes to editors: Eutelsat published the following statement on 22 March 2010

Following new interference, Eutelsat wishes to give the following clarification regarding the transmission via its satellites of BBC Persian, Deutsche Welle and Voice of America Persian, which have been the target of repeated and deliberate jamming:

1. Eutelsat continually carries out technical operations aiming to preserve transmission of BBC Persian, Voice of America and Deutsche Welle via its HOT BIRD^TM satellites. As of today, Deutsche Welle is broadcasting without interference from the HOT BIRD^TM position. Broadcasts of BBC Persian and Voice of America Persian have however been interrupted at this neighbourhood following jamming activity which reoccurred on 20 March;

2. When jamming first began, Eutelsat decided to duplicate BBC Persian, Voice of America and Deutsche Welle on other satellites within its fleet that are more resistant to jamming from Iran. These channels are consequently transmitted via the W3A satellite;

3. Complaints have been lodged by Eutelsat over the last 10 months with the relevant French and international telecommunications regulatory authorities to denounce these deliberate jamming operations. A first complaint was made to the ANFR (Agence Nationale des Fréquences) in May 2009. A new complaint was lodged in February 2010 via the official channel of the Eutelsat Intergovernmental Organisation, to prompt the International Telecommunication Union’s Radio Regulations Board (ITU-R) to give priority to address the matter. The board is meeting between 22 and 26 March;

4. This situation has also prompted a joint initiative on 16 March 2010 by the French, British and German Ministers of Foreign Affairs, who called upon all European Union Member States to adopt a declaration denouncing the jamming operations at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting held on 22 March.

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 26 satellites that provide coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues. At 31 December 2009, Eutelsat’s satellites were broadcasting more than 3,400 television channels and close to 1,100 radio stations. More than 1,000 channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD™ video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East which serves over 123 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Group’s satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates services through teleports in France and Italy that serve enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ 635 employees from 27 countries.

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