SES Global saw a sharp increase in profits and revenues in the third quarter 2005. Net profits were up almost 50 percent in the quarter to 108 million euros ($127.6 million). In the same quarter a year ago, net was 73 million euros ($86.2 million).

Revenues for the third quarter 2005 were 313 million euros ($369.7 million), a 21 percent increase compared to the third quarter 2004. Utilization rates stood at 86.7 percent for SES Astra and 73 percent at SES Americom.

Romain Bausch, CEO of SES Global is optimistic that profits will continue to grow. “In addition to the new transponder contracts signed with video broadcasting customers, we have also introduced new service platforms for video services such as blucom and IP-Prime,” he said. “These will generate new, profitable revenue streams alongside that of our core satellite infrastructure business.”