Arianespace moves into Asia

Arianespace moves into Asia

PARIS (JP): Despite being a relatively new player, European
Space Agency consortium Arianespace aims to take a more active
role in the satellite technology business in Asia.

The consortium, chaired by Charles Bigot and with a staff of
more than 300 highly skilled technicians plus 12,000 people
working in Europe for the Arianespace program through the
industrial shareholders' companies, plans to embark on a new and
bold strategic plan for the region.

In order to tap the fast growing Asian market and meet
consumers' demands, the consortium plans to open a new
representative office in Singapore in the near future and
increase its launching capability.

For over a decade, Arianespace has participated in building
global telecommunications networks with its partners and
customers, satellite manufacturers and operators. With them,
Arianespace has been involved in the emergence of direct
broadcast television and the development of meteorological
services, earth observation and scientific missions.

The consortium for instance has launched 114 satellites and
secured another 43 launch orders in the last 16 years.

In Asia, the consortium has launched Malaysia's Measat1
satellite, Thailand's Thaicom satellite, and an Indian satellite.

On May 15, Israeli's Amos satellite and Indonesia's Palapa C2
will fly in tandem on Ariane4 satellite launcher code named V 86.

Arianespace sales and marketing director for Asia Philippe
Berterottiere said Arianespace has signed contracts to launch
Malaysia's Measat2 satellite in October and Thailand's Thaicom3
in December of this year.

"We are determined to launch a satellite every three weeks,"
said Roger Solari, Arianespace's director of operations.

In spite of tough rivalry from major competitors, such as
America's Atlas, Delta and Proton, Ukraine's Zenith3 and China's
Long March as well as Japan's H-2, Arianespace is optimistic that
it can win more contracts from satellite operators.

A reliable launching record, competitive price structures and
the strategic location of its launching site near the equator in
Kourou (a French territory in Latin America) which gives extra
life duration of one year are among the advantages the consortium
boasts of to win consumers.

To provide launch services that are adapted to ever changing
needs in space transportation Arianespace has successively
implemented satellite launchers Ariane 1, 2, and 3 and is
currently operating Ariane4. Ariane4 can place payloads of up to
4.7 metric tons in geostationary transfer orbit.

Ariane5, the latest generation of Arianespace satellite
launchers, will gradually replace Ariane4 and will carry payloads
of up to 6.8 metric tons into geostationary transfer orbit and 20
metric tons into low earth orbit.

The development of Ariane5 has reached the final stages and is
expected to begin operating at the end of this month.

"We are confident of our satellite reliability that is why we
offer free launches for failed launchings," assured Solari, who
is responsible for Ariane5 development.

The consortium believes that more Asian countries will launch
their own satellites before the year 2000, either for strategic
or commercial purposes.

"Singapore, for instance, has placed an order for a 36 power
transponder satellite which will be launched in 1998,"
Berterottiere said. "Indonesia may also launch Palapa B and
Garuda satellites."

Other Southeast Asian countries such as Myanmar, Laos and
Vietnam, according to Berterottiere, will likely also enter an
era of satellite telecommunications business in the not too
distant future.

To meet market needs, Arianespace has established a worldwide
presence: its head office in Europe is located at Evry near
Paris, France; its North America subsidiary is Arianespace INC.
in Washington D.C.; it has a Pacific Region representative office
in Tokyo, Japan, and the Kourou Facilities in French Guiana.

Now three of the five Arianespace directors for sales and
marketing are also in charge of Asia.

Berterottiere, as area sales and marketing director I, for
example, is in charge of Indonesia, the Philippines, Central
Europe, Taiwan and the Middle East while area sales and marketing
director II is responsible for Thailand, Malaysia, India and
Turkey. Area sales and marketing director III oversees Japan and
South America, and area sales and marketing director IV is
responsible for Western Europe. Another area sales and marketing
director handles the United States.

The history of the European space consortium dates back to
March 26, 1980, when Arianespace incorporated a French public
company.

The shareholders' partners in Arianespace represent the
scientific, technical, financial and political capabilities of 12
European countries comprising Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany,
Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden
and Switzerland.

Arianespace is responsible for the industrial production of
Ariane launch vehicles, marketing and sales of launch services
and launch operations.

Arianespace registered net sales of 4,613 million French
francs in 1994 and a net profit of 140 million francs. Its
expected net sales for 1995 is projected to reach 700 million
French francs. (has)