SES Space & Defense Awarded Global Satellite Services Contract to Support USAGM

December 12, 2023

SES Space & Defense, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES, will provide satellite broadcast distribution in support of the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), Global Network Division (GN) for global distribution of video and audio programming. USAGM awarded the five-year Global Satellite Services (GSS) contract through the General Services Administration (GSA) Complex Commercial SATCOM Solutions (CS3) contract vehicle.

SES Space & Defense is harnessing SES’s expertise in broadcast services, coupled with the capabilities offered by trusted industry partners, to manage satellite and terrestrial content delivery. This effort supports the USAGM GN division, and is aimed at distributing over 4,000 hours of original programming every week to an audience exceeding 215 million individuals, spanning 100 countries. 

The comprehensive global support provided by SES Space & Defense to the USAGM network includes transmission to sites worldwide responsible for delivering shortwave Amplitude Modulation (AM), Frequency Modulation (FM), and Television (TV) broadcasts. SES Space & Defense will provide end-to-end managed solutions, including Broadcast Multiplex (MUX), transponder capacity, teleport services, internet connectivity, terrestrial backbone delivery network, continuous 24×7×365 monitoring, and operational support. The managed network services provided are built on both existing and emerging industry standards and best practices, and will enable USAGM with the flexibility to address both current and future program delivery needs effectively.

The services delivered by SES Space & Defense will benefit USAGM and the entities they support, including Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), Radio Free Asia (RFA), and Middle East Broadcasting Network (MBN) for their High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) video and radio content distribution across the globe.

“We are committed to delivering best-in-class, guaranteed satellite communication capabilities to USAGM and honored to support the global distribution of video and audio programming to over two hundred million viewers across one hundred countries,” said David Fields, SES Space & Defense President and CEO. “Leveraging a comprehensive suite of end-to-end integrated solutions, SES Space & Defense is here to ensure USAGM’s mission is met with excellence, both now and into the future.”