History


Yesterday…A History of Innovation

Our 35 year history and global reach, coupled with our innovative technologies, allow us to enjoy a leadership position in the satellite communications industry.

Since our first launch in 1975, we’ve established the industry standard for the satellite industry. We have a history of innovation—from the number and type of satellites launched—to the standards we have set in the IPTV space.

Today…Casting a Wider Net

We offer extensive global reach through a fleet of 37 satellites.

Over the past ten years, SES AMERICOM has launched over 17 satellites with three launches planned for 2008.

We have developed and deployed an innovative IPTV solution relying on open systems and industry standards which leverages our 35-year heritage in video transmission and distribution called IP-PRIME®.

Our constantly growing ecosystem of integration and reseller Partners allow us to focus on the holistic communication needs of our varied customers—from government to corporate enterprises.

Tomorrow…Enhancing the Legacy

We continue to evolve as a communication provider serving constituents as diverse as telecommunications providers, cable programmers, corporations, media concerns and government agencies.

We provide customer value by providing state of the art satellite communications—either directly or thru our trusted ecosystem of reseller Partners—to ensure best in class performance, business continuity and disaster recovery.

Our vision of tomorrow

Today, the satellite business is producing reliable earnings for our shareholders. But, undeniably, there are changes on the horizon dictated—if nothing else—by the changing worlds of our customers. They expect us to “get it” and to anticipate their communication needs.

What we know is that the future will be vastly different. It is estimated that within the next 25 years, science and technology will advance by a factor of 4 – 7x beyond the advancements over the last 25 years.

While we may take this in stride — it is absolutely stunning in its business and social implications.

It means that where we stand today on the technology and science scale versus where we will be in the next 25 years — is a moment equivalent to being in the year 1650. That is incredible! We will continue to be in front of technological innovations and trends to best serve our varied and technology focused customers in a wide variety of industries.

SES AMERICOM and U.S. satellite historical timeline

1958
Explorer 1 launched
1960
Trios 1 weather satellite launched
1962
Telstar 1 completed first transatlantic telecast
1962
Mariner 2 flies past Venus into solar orbit
1969
Mariner 7 returns images of Martian surface southern hemisphere
1971
RCA buys the Alaskan Communications System (later renamed RCA Alascom) from the federal government. The need to modernize the system drives RCA to satellite based services. RCA files with the FCC to construct and launch a four satellite system at a cost of $256 million to serve Alaska, Hawaii and the Continental United States.
1972
Pioneer 10 designed to familiarize alien life with humans, returns with close ups of Jupiter 1973. United States adopts an "Open Skies Policy" to encourage private industry to enter the satellite business.
1976
HBO inaugurates cable programming distributed in the U.S. via satellite by RCA AMERICOM, airs "Thrilla from Manila" heavyweight boxing match using satellites. Ted Turner debuts America's first superstation.
1981
RCA AMERICOM auctions seven leases on Satcom F3R at Sotheby’s for $90 million. The transaction, later voided by the FCC, is still used today as a business school case study.
1982
AMERICOM establishes premiere radio neighborhood at 139° West and introduces DATS industry standard.
1985
RCA AMERICOM launches its first Ku-band satellite, Satcom K2, onboard the space shuttle.
1986
AMERICOM becomes a part of GE with acquisition of RCA.
1992
Satcom C3 and Satcom C4 launched with dedicated C-band payloads for cable programmers.
1998
GE AMERICOM introduces high-powered, Ku-band services throughout Europe in partnership with NSAB, now an SES affiliate.
2000
GE AMERICOM adds four satellites to its fleet, acquires Atlantic and Pacific transoceanic capacity to complete global connections, and begins to deliver services in Asia.
2001
SES acquires AMERICOM from GE. SES GLOBAL formed to become world’s largest commercial satellite operator.
2002
SES AMERICOM announces a major initiative to serve the direct broadcast industry, AMERICOM2Home®.
2003
SES AMERICOM enters into its first service agreement with EchoStar to provide capacity on AMC-2 and future AMC-15.
2004
SES AMERICOM launches HD-PRIME,® America's Cable Neighborhood.
2005
SES AMERICOM launches AMC-12, the Atlantic Ocean region's most powerful C-band satellite ever -- completing an unprecedented series of campaigns that saw five launches in a 12 month period.
2006
Major trials and development of IP-PRIME® lead to an innovative turnkey IPTV solution that leverages both cutting-edge distribution and encoding technologies and long-standing relationships with the world's leading programmers.
2007
Major airlines begin offering in-flight broadband and Wi-Fi using satellite technology.