With capacity commercialised on 28 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. As of 31 March 2012, Eutelsat’s satellites were broadcasting more than 4,250 television channels. 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.
www.eutelsat.com

Astrium, part of the EADS group, provides civil and defence space systems and services; it is the only European company to span the entire range of space industry activities – launchers, satellites and services. In 2011, Astrium had a turnover of €5 billion and 18,000 employees mainly in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands.

Astrium provides a total satellite communications system capability, from spacecraft and payload design, manufacture, test, and launch and operations to the complete ground control and communications system infrastructure, in-orbit operation and services.
A long-standing partner of Eutelsat, Astrium has built most of the HOT BIRD™ satellites.
www.astrium.eads.net

European leader in satellite systems and a major player in orbital infrastructures, Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%). Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio embody the two groups’ “Space Alliance”. Thales Alenia Space sets the global standard in solutions for space telecoms, radar and optical Earth observation, defense and security, navigation and science. The company has a total of 7,200 employees and 10 industrial sites, with design and manufacturing facilities in France, Italy, Spain and Belgium.
www.thalesaleniaspace.com