Thesuccess of XM Satellite Radio [Nasdaq: XMSR] in the United States is further validation that satellite radio can make it in Europe, according to Pascale Sourisse, the CEO of European satellite manufacturer Alcatel Space. Sourisse is optimistic despite the recent bankruptcy filing by European satellite radio hopeful Global Radio.

In the second half of last year, Alcatel Space, alongside WorldSpace and towerCast, in association with media groups Europe 1, NRJ, Radio France and RTL, conducted a demonstration of digital broadcasting through a hybrid satellite and terrestrial system. Sourisse told SATELLITE TODAY: “We are very happy with the good marketing results of XM Radio in the U.S. and we also think a solution in Europe combining satellite radio plus terrestrial retransmission is very attractive. We demonstrated solutions like that last year. The results were quite positive and have generated a lot of interest.”

An exclusive in-depth interview with Pascale Sourisse can be found in the May 21 issue of Interspace. For more information about subscribing to PBI Media’s satellite newsletters, check out our Web site at http://www.telecomweb.com/catalog