[Satellite TODAY 10-26-09] SES reported overall profits of 364.3 million euros ($546.43 million) for the first nine months of 2009, an increase of about 7 percent compared to the perioda  year ago, according to its third quarter financial results, issued Oct. 23.
    Overall revenues for the nine-month period were 1.26 billion euros ($1.89 billion), an increase of 5 percent from 2008. The company commercialized 20 additional transponders across the fleet, raising transponder utilization rates to 82.2 percent.
    SES CEO Romain Bausch said the company’s infrastructure activities “developed well” during the third quarter, and he remains positive on his 2010 outlook, despite the effects of the weak U.S. dollar on the operators top-line products. “For 2010 and beyond, we foresee continued growth and attractive levels of profitability,” Bausch said.