SES Sirius

SES Sirius was the satellite communications business formerly known as Nordic Satellite AB, or NSAB. It was established in 1982 by the governments of Sweden and Norway as part of a broader effort to cooperate on telecommunications satellites. The business ultimately developed and operated the Sirius satellite system, using geostationary spacecraft to distribute television, radio, data and communications services across the Nordic countries and the Baltic states. The company’s first major spacecraft was Tele-X, built by Aérospatiale and launched on 2 April 1989 from French Guiana on an Ariane 2 rocket. The Swedish Space Corporation was contracted to operate the system, and in 1993 it acquired the Swedish government’s interest in NSAB, making it the sole owner at that stage. NSAB subsequently expanded its fleet and commercial reach. In late 1993 it acquired Marco Polo 1, a Hughes 376 satellite that had previously been used by British Satellite Broadcasting. The spacecraft returned to service in February 1994 under the name Sirius 1 at the orbital position 5° east. Ownership changed during the 1990s. Teracom acquired a 50 percent stake in February 1994, while Tele Danmark later acquired a 25 percent interest from Teracom in 1996. NSAB also ordered additional spacecraft. Sirius 2 was purchased from Aérospatiale in 1994 and launched by Ariane 4 on 12 November 1997. Sirius 3, a Hughes 376HP satellite ordered in 1997, was launched by Ariane 4 on 5 October 1998. These satellites strengthened the system’s capacity for broadcast distribution and other communications applications. SES began consolidating control in 2000, acquiring the interests held by Tele Danmark and Teracom and becoming a 50-50 joint owner with the Swedish Space Corporation. SES increased its stake to 75 percent in December 2003 and to 90 percent in January 2008. The company adopted the SES Sirius name on 1 December 2005, reflecting its integration into the SES group while retaining the Sirius commercial identity. By 2004, services delivered through the Sirius system reached approximately 16.4 million homes through direct satellite reception and cable networks carrying Sirius-distributed content. The system therefore served both households with satellite reception and wider audiences reached through terrestrial cable distribution. Its principal business was infrastructure and capacity provision rather than a consumer-facing retail brand. SES obtained full control in March 2010, through its then-subsidiary SES Astra. In June 2010, the company was renamed SES Astra, and its only fully operational satellite at that time, Sirius 4, was renamed Astra 4A. SES Sirius consequently ceased to exist as an independent corporate entity. Its satellite capacity and operations became part of SES’s broader Astra-based fleet and service organization.

SES Sirius originated as Nordic Satellite AB, commonly abbreviated NSAB. Sweden and Norway established the company in 1982 as part of an intergovernmental telecommunications-satellite cooperation initiative. The partnership ended during the 1980s: in 1989, Sweden assumed full ownership after acquiring Norway’s 15 percent interest. The company’s first satellite, Tele-X, was built by Aérospatiale and launched on 2 April 1989 aboard an Ariane 2 rocket from French Guiana. The Swedish Space Corporation operated the system, and in 1993 it acquired the Swedish government’s shares in NSAB. This made the Swedish Space Corporation the company’s sole owner before subsequent commercial ownership changes. NSAB expanded its fleet in the 1990s. In late 1993 it acquired Marco Polo 1, a Hughes 376 geostationary communications satellite previously associated with British Satellite Broadcasting. After that broadcaster’s collapse and its combination with Sky Television, the spacecraft was gradually withdrawn and later returned to service in February 1994 as Sirius 1 at 5° east. In the same month, Teracom acquired a 50 percent interest in NSAB. Tele Danmark later obtained a 25 percent stake from Teracom in 1996. The satellite portfolio grew with Sirius 2 and Sirius 3. NSAB agreed to purchase Sirius 2 from Aérospatiale in July 1994. The spacecraft was launched successfully on 12 November 1997 by an Ariane 4 rocket, and SES signed an agreement shortly after launch to lease all of its transponders. NSAB ordered Sirius 3, a Hughes 376HP satellite, in May 1997. It launched on 5 October 1998, also on an Ariane 4. SES became increasingly influential in the company’s ownership. In October 2000, SES acquired the interests of Tele Danmark and Teracom, becoming a 50-50 joint owner with the Swedish Space Corporation. SES raised its holding to 75 percent in December 2003 and to 90 percent in January 2008. On 1 December 2005, NSAB adopted the SES Sirius name. The Sirius system supported television, radio, data and communications services in the Nordic countries and Baltic states. Its distribution model combined direct satellite reception with cable-network carriage. A 2004 SES annual report stated that approximately 16.4 million homes received broadcast and broadband services from the Sirius system: about 1.5 million via direct satellite reception and approximately 14.9 million through cable networks distributing Sirius content. SES obtained complete control in March 2010 through its then-subsidiary SES Astra. In June of that year, the company was renamed SES Astra and the only fully operational satellite, Sirius 4, became Astra 4A. SES Sirius therefore ended as a separate corporate entity, with its activities and satellite assets incorporated into SES’s wider Astra organization.

• 2010

  SES Sirius absorbed into SES Astra

  [1]SES Siriusen.wikipedia.org

  SES took full control, renamed the company SES Astra and renamed Sirius 4 as Astra 4A.

• 2005

  NSAB renamed SES Sirius

  [1]SES Siriusen.wikipedia.org

  The company adopted the SES Sirius name as SES increased its control and integrated the business into its group.

• 1998

  Sirius 3 launched

  [1]SES Siriusen.wikipedia.org

  The Hughes 376HP Sirius 3 satellite was launched by Ariane 4.

• 1997

  Sirius 2 launched

  [1]SES Siriusen.wikipedia.org

  Sirius 2 was launched by Ariane 4 and became an important capacity platform for the system.

• 1994

  Sirius 1 enters service

  [1]SES Siriusen.wikipedia.org

  Marco Polo 1 returned to service as Sirius 1 at the 5° east orbital position.

• 1993

  Swedish Space Corporation becomes sole owner

  [1]SES Siriusen.wikipedia.org

  The Swedish Space Corporation acquired the Swedish government’s shares in NSAB.

• 1989

  Sweden assumes full government ownership

  [1]SES Siriusen.wikipedia.org

  Sweden acquired Norway’s 15 percent interest as the bilateral partnership was wound down.

• 1989

  Tele-X launched

  [1]SES Siriusen.wikipedia.org

  NSAB’s first satellite, Tele-X, was launched on an Ariane 2 rocket from French Guiana.

• 1982

  NSAB established

  [1]SES Siriusen.wikipedia.org

  Sweden and Norway formed Nordic Satellite AB as part of a telecommunications satellite cooperation program.

A regional satellite infrastructure operator focused on broadcast, broadband, data and communications capacity for the Nordic and Baltic markets.

• Satellite communications infrastructure · 1989

  Sirius satellite system

  The Sirius system was a regional geostationary satellite platform serving the Nordic countries and Baltic states. It supported television and radio distribution as well as data, broadband and other communications applications. Capacity reached homes both through direct satellite reception and through cable networks that redistributed programming carried by Sirius satellites.

• Geostationary communications satellite

  Sirius 1

  Sirius 1 was formerly known as Marco Polo 1, a Hughes 376 spacecraft associated with British Satellite Broadcasting. After being acquired by NSAB, it returned to service in February 1994 at 5° east under the Sirius name, contributing satellite capacity to the company’s Nordic and Baltic communications platform.

• Geostationary communications satellite · 1997

  Sirius 2

  Sirius 2 was acquired from Aérospatiale and launched on 12 November 1997 by an Ariane 4 rocket. SES subsequently arranged a lease covering all of the satellite’s transponders. The spacecraft expanded the system’s ability to provide broadcast and communications capacity across its regional service area.

• Geostationary communications satellite · 1998

  Sirius 3

  Sirius 3 was a Hughes 376HP satellite ordered by NSAB in 1997. It launched on 5 October 1998 on an Ariane 4 rocket and formed part of the fleet used for television, radio, data and communications services in the Nordic and Baltic markets.

• Geostationary communications satellite

  Sirius 4

  Sirius 4 was the final fully operational satellite associated with SES Sirius. After SES completed its takeover and reorganized the business in 2010, the spacecraft was renamed Astra 4A and continued under SES’s Astra organization rather than the SES Sirius brand.

• 2010

  Full integration into SES AstraM&A

  Background

  SES had progressively increased its ownership of SES Sirius, reaching 90 percent in 2008. The group then moved to eliminate the company’s remaining independent corporate status.

  Action taken

  SES took full control in March 2010 through SES Astra. In June, SES Sirius was renamed SES Astra and Sirius 4 was renamed Astra 4A.

  Aftermath

  SES Sirius ceased to have an independent existence, and its operations and satellite capacity became part of SES’s Astra organization.

  Source

• 2005

  Adoption of the SES Sirius nameStrategy

  Background

  SES had become the company’s majority owner, increasing its stake to 75 percent in 2003. The renaming reflected the company’s closer relationship with the SES group while retaining the established Sirius identity.

  Action taken

  NSAB was renamed SES Sirius on 1 December 2005.

  Aftermath

  The business continued operating as part of the expanding SES satellite portfolio until its final integration into SES Astra in 2010.

  Source

• 2010

  SES takes full control of SES Sirius[1]SES Siriusen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  SES, through its SES Astra subsidiary, took full control of the satellite operator, which was subsequently renamed SES Astra.

• 2010

  Sirius 4 renamed Astra 4A[1]SES Siriusen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following the corporate integration of SES Sirius into SES Astra, the Sirius 4 satellite adopted the Astra 4A name.

1. 1SES Siriusen.wikipedia.org