© Jeannot Ries - rtl.lu
Luxembourg-based SES has finalised its acquisition of U.S. rival Intelsat, unveiling a new visual identity and signaling a shift toward secure global connectivity for governments and institutions.
Over the summer, Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES finalised its acquisition of former U.S. competitor Intelsat, creating a new heavyweight in the global communications satellite industry. On Thursday evening, the company presented its new visual identity at the Mudam in Luxembourg. But according to CEO Adel Al-Saleh in an interview with RTL, the rebranding is about far more than a logo.
This marks the start of a new era. "The merger of SES and Intelsat is not just about combining two companies", Al-Saleh explained. "We are building something new, a company designed to grow, to innovate differently, and to usher in a new era of services."
Reflecting on SES’s journey, Al-Saleh also noted:
"If you rewind to the very beginning, when SES was a small start-up with the bold idea of using satellites for global television broadcasts, and fast forward to today, we have the world’s largest fleet of GEO satellites, the largest fleet of MEO satellites, and the most extensive ground infrastructure across multiple industries. It’s an extraordinary transformation. Luxembourg should be very proud of what has been achieved."
The company is increasingly shifting its focus from traditional broadcasting to secure and resilient connectivity for governments, institutions such as the EU, and the defense sector.
"We recently completed a critical five-to-six-month test aboard the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which sailed from the Mediterranean to the Pacific and back," Al-Saleh said. "Throughout the journey, we provided uninterrupted broadband connectivity. That’s a unique capability, and we are just as proud of that achievement as we are of our long-standing partnership with the Luxembourg state and other governments worldwide."
IRIS²: Europe’s answer to Starlink
"It’s about establishing Europe’s sovereignty in space. We are proud to lead the consortium developing the system, and we hope to deliver it to the European Union. This matters on many levels: politically, strategically, and for advancing new technologies."
Commitment to Luxembourg
"Betzdorf is our home, our center and headquarters. Even as a global company with a large satellite fleet and employees around the world, this will remain our main office. Luxembourg has extraordinary talent on this campus – engineers, technicians, developers, marketing, and sales staff. There’s no reason to worry about Betzdorf as our base."
Currently, around 600 people work for SES in Betzdorf. After the full integration of Intelsat, the company will employ approximately 4,000 people worldwide.
