SES has entered into an agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) to support innovation in satellite broadband communication. As part of the agreement, SES' 100% owned satellite broadband affiliate, SES Broadband Services, is offering a range of broadband services at special conditions to industrial players participating in the ARTES Applications Projects led by ESA.

The ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) initiative led by ESA seeks to enhance the competitiveness of European industry by promoting the use of satellites in such functions as broadcasting, multimedia and mobile communications, data relay, search and rescue, and aviation services.

With this initiative, SES Broadband Services encourages industrial players to develop new satellite broadband applications and services.

Companies participating in the ARTES Applications Programme (ARTES 3-4 and ARTES 20) can benefit from preferential rates for SES Broadband services on the Pan-European and Middle East beams of the ASTRA-3B satellite located at 23.5 degrees East and the Sub-Saharan African beam of the ASTRA-4A satellite located at 5 degrees East.

"We continuously foster product innovation to achieve and sustain market leadership. We are delighted to expand our cooperation with the European Space Agency to support innovation in the European satellite industry," said Patrick Biewer, Managing Director at SES Broadband Services.

"We see this initiative as a catalyst for new ideas, facilitating the design and launch of new applications for satellite broadband in Europe, Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa."

"ESA is very pleased about the joint initiative with SES Broadband Services to support ARTES Applications projects. The special conditions offered by an operator like SES provide an important asset in the development stages of new space based applications and services.

It will help to stimulate good ideas and to build relationships right from the beginning of a project, and prepare for the launch of operational services at the project's conclusion," said Amnon Ginati, Head of ESA's Integrated and Telecom-related Applications Department.

The agreement is valid until September 15, 2014. Interested parties can apply until December 31, 2013. For further information, please visit here.