-SES S.A. announces financial
results for the three and six months
ended June 30, 2026.
-
Networks revenue up +89.0% yoy(1) supported
by growth in Mobility (+169.9% yoy(1);
including positive impact from a
contract restructuring in Aviation
in Q1 26) and Government & Defense
(+41.9% yoy(1));
Media (+46.5% yoy(1))
performance in-line with
expectations
-
€1.2 billion of new business and
contract renewals signed in H1 2026,
contributing to €6.4 billion backlog
-
2026 financial outlook(2) reiterated:
both Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA
expected to be stable yoy(1) on
a like-for-like and constant FX
basis, unchanged CapEx of around
€700 million
-
O3b mPOWER satellites 11,12 and 13
expected to launch in Q3 2026,
boosting mPOWER network capacity and
resilience
-
IRIS2 Rendez-vous
1 negotiations are in their final
stages
-
SES is progressing well with its
satellite manufacturing site,
supporting meoSphere, its next
generation MEO network targeted for
operation by 2030 and designed to
significantly boost the company’s
next generation MEO network capacity
-
FCC’s Upper
C-band Report and Order,
establishes a time frame to clear
160 MHz of Upper C-band spectrum by
2030/2031 in the contiguous United
States while maintaining
substantially the same service to
our customers
-
On June 17, 2026, shareholders at
the EGM approved the cancelation of
treasury shares resulting in a c.6%
reduction of the total shares
(economic) to 417 million shares
-
SES will host a Capital Markets Day
in Luxembourg, on December 9, 2026,
with focus on the company’s
strategic transformation and growth
opportunities supporting mid-term
guidance
Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES, commented: “SES
delivered first half 2026 results
according to our expectations. While Q2
performance was softer than expected due
to slippage of some contracts, we are
where we expected to be at the end of
H1. We expect H2 performance to ramp up,
and we remain confident in our unchanged
financial outlook for 2026. At the same
time, we continue to realize cost
synergies across the business with a 9%
reduction in total OpEx and 16% in Staff
costs, while maintaining disciplined
execution against our strategic
priorities. During H1 2026 we already
secured strategic agreements that
underpin SES’s mid-term and long-term
growth and financial performance.
Networks growth continues to be driven
by solid commercial momentum in Mobility
and Government & Defense, while Fixed
Data is navigating headwinds as expected
after decisive restructuring actions. In
Aviation, we signed several important
agreements and continued to build strong
commercial momentum with 200 new
aircraft wins in H1 26 and now over 600
tails flying with our multi-orbit
Electronically Steered Antena (ESA)
solution. We have added Viva México,
Avianca and Latam Airlines to our
aircraft portfolio, reinforcing our
position as a leading inflight
connectivity provider, delivering
reliable, high-performance connectivity
to millions of passengers around the
world.
In Government & Defense, demand for
secure, resilient and mission-critical
communications remains strong. This was
demonstrated by the selection of SES
Space & Defense to prime mission
execution for the U.S. Space Force's
Protected Tactical SATCOM-Global (PTSG)
program, as well as our award under the
U.S. Space Force SSC five-year Blanket
Purchase Agreement (BPA) for managed
Ku-band satellite services. These awards
underline the trusted role SES plays in
supporting the evolving communications
requirements of government and defense
customers globally.
IRIS2 is
a strategically important program for
SES and a cornerstone of Europe's future
secure and sovereign space
infrastructure. Rendez-vous 1
negotiations are in their final stages
and we are working closely with the
members of the SpaceRISE consortium and
the European Commission to validate most
of the key terms and conditions.
We are also encouraged by the continued
progress of our satellite manufacturing
development activities in Luxembourg
tied to our next-gen MEO, meoSphere
program. meoSphere is highly
complementary to IRIS2,
further strengthening our industrial
capabilities and positioning SES to play
an even greater role across future
secure sovereign space programs.
In Media, performance was aligned with
our expectations. Satellite remains the
most efficient and reliable platform for
large-scale content distribution, as
demonstrated by the over €400 million of
contract renewals secured during H1.The
next three O3b mPOWER satellites, 11, 12
and 13 are expected to launch in Q3
2026. These will further enhance network
resilience, service quality and boost
mPower constellation capacity for our
customers in the Networks segments.
We are pleased with the outcome of the
FCC’s Upper C-band Report and Order and
commend the FCC for the speed, fairness,
and diligence of the process. We remain
fully committed to working cooperatively
with the FCC and all stakeholders as the
process progresses. Gross incentive
payments to SES for compliance with the
transition deadlines total approximately
$5.6 billion. The incentive payment and
cost reimbursement framework
appropriately recognizes the critical
role SES will play in repurposing 160
MHz of spectrum for next-generation
wireless services, while ensuring that
C-band customers continue to receive
substantially the same service. Overall,
this provides a clear path to future
cash generation and de-leveraging, which
will further strengthen our financial
position and long-term value creation
when reinforced by our commitment to
disciplined financial allocation.
With enhanced operational and commercial
momentum expected in the second half of
2026, continued delivery of synergies,
and the strong long-term opportunities
represented by IRIS² and Upper C-band
programs, we reiterate our 2026
financial outlook and are committed to
disciplined financial execution and
long-term value creation.”
Financial Outlook
SES reiterates its 2026 financial
outlook on a like-for-like (as if
Intelsat was consolidated from January
1, 2024) and constant FX basis(1).
On this basis, SES’s 2026 financial
outlook expects both Revenue and
Adjusted EBITDA to be stable
year-on-year.
Capital expenditures (net cash absorbed
by investing activities excluding
acquisitions and financial investments;
including IRIS2 and
first phase of meoSphere capital
expenditures) are expected to be around
€700 million(2).
SES plans to continue building on its
MEO capabilities through meoSphere, the
company’s next generation multi mission
MEO network supported by New Space
innovators, including the K2 Space
partnership.
Key business and financial highlights
(Intelsat fully consolidated from 17
July 2025 – as reported; at constant FX
unless explained otherwise)
SES regularly uses Alternative
Performance Measures (APMs) to present
the performance of the group and
believes that these APMs are relevant to
enhance understanding of the group’s
financial performance and financial
position.
Networks revenue of €1,018 million (64%
of total revenue) increased +89.0% yoy
driven by growth in Mobility (+169.9%
yoy; including positive impact from a
planned contract restructuring in
Aviation of €81 million in Q1 2026, €15
million in Q2 2025 and periodic revenue
of €19 million recognized in Maritime in
Q1 2025), Government & Defense (+41.9%
yoy), and Fixed Data (+89.3% yoy).
Media revenue of €571 million (36% of
total revenue) was up +46.5% yoy,
benefiting from fully consolidating
Intelsat from 17 July 2025. Underlying
performance reflects capacity
optimization in mature markets as well
as the impact from the Brazilian
customer bankruptcy in Q1 2026.
Adjusted EBITDA of €725 million
represented an Adjusted EBITDA margin of
45.2% (H1 2025: 53.3%) including the
contribution from the acquisition of
Intelsat from 17 July 2025 and a
contract restructuring in Mobility in Q1
2026 as well as lower OpEx. These
favorable impacts were partly offset by
the mix impact of revenue declines from
Fixed Data and Media, and the phasing of
Government contracts, as well as adverse
foreign exchange impacts.
Adjusted EBITDA excludes significant
special items of €6 million net income
(H1 2025: €10 million net income),
comprising fair value movement on
contingent value rights of €72 million
(H1 2025: nil) and other income
(non-recurring) of €22 million (H1 2025:
€49 million), partly offset by
restructuring charges of €10 million (H1
2025: €6 million), costs associated with
the development and/or implementation of
merger and acquisition activities
(“M&A”) of €11 million (H1 2025: €32
million), non-cash loss from
derecognition of assets of €33 million
(H1 2025: nil), non-cash impairment
losses on financial assets non-recurring
of €31 million (H1 2025: nil) and other
charges of non-recurring nature of €3
million (H1 2025: €2 million).
Adjusted Net Loss of €89 million (H1
2025: Profit of €77 million) mainly
reflects €250 million year-on-year
increased depreciation & amortisation
driven by the Intelsat acquisition,
higher net financing costs of €155
million (H1 2025: €12 million), as well
as higher non-operating expenses and
non-controlling interest. This is partly
offset by higher Adjusted EBITDA and
lower net income tax. Net financing
costs includes interest expense on
external borrowings of €115 million (H1
2025: €41 million) and other net
interest expense of €77 million (H1
2025: €12 million), partly offset by
interest income of €32 million (H1 2025:
€52 million), as well as the impact of
net foreign exchange gain of €5 million
(H1 2025: loss of €11 million).
Adjusted Net Loss excludes the
significant special items highlighted
above, as well as non-cash net
impairment expense of €106 million (H1
2025: €73 million), M&A-related net
financing charges of nil (H1 2025: €23
million) and net tax benefit of €13
million (H1 2025: benefit of €23
million) associated with all the
significant special items.
Adjusted Free Cash Flow (excluding
significant special items) was an
outflow of €130 million, representing a
year-on-year decrease of €323 million.
This primarily reflected higher capital
expenditure and interest payments, as
well as an adverse working capital
movement driven by timing of
collections. Adjusted Net Operating Cash
Flow of €522 million excludes €186
million of payments in connection with
IRIS2 restricted
cash and €30 million of payments in
respect of other significant special
items and represents an increase of €42
million compared to prior period.
Payments in respect of other significant
special items mainly relate to outflows
associated with the development and/or
implementation of merger and acquisition
activities and restructuring.
At June 30, 2026, the Adjusted Net Debt
to Adjusted EBITDA ratio (treating 50%
of €1.650 billion of hybrid bonds as
debt and 50% as equity) was 4.4 times
(31 December 2025: 3.9 times). Cash &
cash equivalents of €703 million
(excluding €215 million of restricted
cash with respect to the SES-led
consortium’s involvement in IRIS2).
In H1 2026, SES repaid debt maturities
of approximately €1,186 million,
including its €650 million senior bond
and its outstanding €525 million Deeply
Subordinated Fixed Rate Resettable
Securities.
SES continues to engage with insurers on
the insurance claim for O3b mPOWER
satellites 1-4. In Q2 2026, the company
has collected approximately $15 million
(€13 million) through settlements, with
additional payments expected as
negotiations progress. To date the
company has collected a total of $218
million.
On April 2, 2026, shareholders at the
AGM approved all company-recommended
resolutions. The final FY 2025 dividend
of €104 million equal to €0.25 per
A-share and €0.10 per B-share was paid
to shareholders on 16 April 2026.
On June 17, 2026, shareholders at the
EGM approved all company-recommended
resolutions, including the cancelation
of treasury shares resulting in a c.6%
reduction of the total shares (economic)
to 417 million shares.
SES restates its commitment to
disciplined financial allocation,
investment grade metrics and net
leverage target of 3.0 times or below.
Once the company meets its net leverage
target it intends to increase the annual
base dividend, and at least a majority
of future exceptional cash flows will be
prioritized for shareholder returns.
The SES-led SpaceRISE consortium is
progressing well through Rendez‑Vous 1
of the IRIS2 program.
SES is working closely with the European
Commission and the European Space Agency
to validate most key terms and
conditions, including project costs,
supply chain arrangements, and technical
requirements for the design, delivery,
and operation of the innovative MEO-LEO
network. SES remains fully committed to
the European Union’s vision for a
sovereign, secure, and competitive
space‑based connectivity infrastructure.
As the lead member of the SpaceRise
consortium, SES collaborates with all
partners to ensure successful delivery
of IRIS2.
On July 24, 2026, the U.S. Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
published the Upper C-band Report &
Order that repurposes 160 MHz of Upper
C-band spectrum in the contiguous United
States for next-generation terrestrial
wireless services. The spectrum will be
auctioned by no later than July 2027,
and satellite operators will be required
to clear the spectrum by December 2030
(for the top 75 partial economic areas)
and June 2031 (for the remaining areas).
Gross incentive payments of
approximately $5.6 billion will be paid
to SES if the spectrum is cleared within
the specified transition deadlines. The
Report and Order also provides a
framework for the reimbursement of
reasonable and necessary costs
associated with the transition of Upper
C-band customers to other spectrum in
order to provide them with substantially
the same service. SES remains fully
committed to working cooperatively with
the FCC and all stakeholders to complete
the Upper C-band transition in time. SES
restates its commitment to disciplined
financial allocation of future proceeds
received under the FCC’s Report and
Order.