March 28, 2001: SES Global announced the acquisition of GE Americom from General Electric for US$5 billion in cash and stock, granting General Electric a 25% stake in SES Global in the process. In the same transaction, SES Global acquired 100% of SES Astra, Europe’s leading DTH company, in order to create a global fleet of 28 satellites plus partnership and investment investors in 13 others serving Asia and Latin America

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The SSPI Satellite Timeline is the first interactive site on the Web to chronicle the rich and diverse history of the commercial satellite industry. Launched in October 2007 – the 50th anniversary of Sputnik – the Timeline is a learning tool for satellite professionals, students, the news media and the innovative companies that make up the industry