No details about Starsem's stake in Skybridge were given.

From 2002, the European-Russian group Starsem will supply 11 Soyuz/ST-Fregat launchers, each capable of launching up to three satellites, the companies said, adding that the deal includes an option for further launchers.

Other members of the Skybridge consortium are Snecma, Loral Space, Mitsubishi Corp, Toshiba Corp, Sharp Corp, Thomson Multimedia and Boeing Co.

Starsem's shareholders are Aerospatiale-Matra with 35 percent, Arianespace with 15 percent, the Russian space and aviation agency with 25 percent and the Samara space centre with 25 percent.

Last December Skybridge had announced an agreement with Boeing for the US giant's Delta launchers to put into orbit 40 of Skybridge's planned 80-satellite system.

SkyBridge will provide telecom operators and service providers, as from 2003, with broadband capacities, enabling them to offer business and residential users access to high-speed, highly interactive multimedia services anywhere in the world via an 80 low Earth orbiting satellite constellation.

"It is a new momentum in the cooperation between Alcatel Space and the Russian space industry in the field of telecommunication satellites", said Jean-Claude Husson, President and CEO of Alcatel Space Industries. "And we intend to go a step further", he added.

Starsem and its European and Russian partners will manage all tasks associated with launch services on Soyuz vehicles from development of a customized SkyBridge satellite dispenser to final satellite separation.

"Starsem has provided us with a very competitive proposal. In addition, Starsem has an extensive constellations launch experience with the reliable Soyuz vehicles", commented Pascale Sourisse, President and CEO of SkyBridge LP. "Together with Boeing and its Delta rockets family, we will have a very capable and flexible combination of launchers to meet our program needs" she added.

"Starsem is very proud of its association with SkyBridge and Alcatel, which manage one of the most exciting high technology project worldwide", said Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chairman and CEO of Starsem. "This new contract confirms our company as a key player in launch services for low orbit satellites including constellations, scientific and Earth observation missions."

In 1999, Starsem launched in ten months twenty-four satellites, i.e. 50% of the Globalstar constellation and in 2000, Starsem already qualified with two successful flights the Fregat upper stage which will be used for the deployment of the SkyBridge satellites.

This new contract strengthens the Starsem�s order book which includes the Cluster II and Mars Express scientific missions for the European Space Agency as well as maintenance missions for the Globalstar constellation.

AFP correspondents in Moscow and Paris contributed to this report