ATLANTA, Dec. 15, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ELMG) has announced today that it has received the fourth flight set award from Alcatel Space, a subsidiary of Alcatel (Paris:CGEP.PA) and (NYSE:ALA), for the critical high-power output assembly (HPOA) used by XM Satellite Radio. The latest flight set, valued at $1.5 million, will perform the critical signal combining on XM's powerful geostationary satellites, supporting the nation's leading satellite radio service transmission of 101 channels of high-quality digital radio to subscribers nationwide.
EMS's Space & Technology/Atlanta division will manufacture and deliver the assemblies, which use EMS's trademark low-loss, light-weight ferrite and high-power combining technologies to construct the powerful broadcast signal for transmission to earth by combining and protecting twenty-two simultaneous traveling wave tube amplifier (TWTA) outputs. The signal is strong enough to be received by moving cars on the ground.
"EMS is proud to partner with Alcatel Space to help XM achieve its overall system objective of delivering quality radio broadcast to people throughout the country," said Norm Johnson, vice president, Space Electronics, EMS Technologies' Space & Technology/Atlanta Division.
EMS previously delivered the first three HPOA flight sets to Alcatel Space under a contract beginning in 1998.
About Alcatel Space
Alcatel Space, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alcatel, is the world's third largest satellite manufacturer and Number 1 in Europe. Deploying extensive dual expertise in civil and military applications, Alcatel Space develops satellite solutions for telecommunications, navigation, radar and optical observation, meteorology and science. The company is also the leading European prime contractor for earth observation, meteorology and navigation ground segments, and for space system operation. For more information, visit the Alcatel Space website: www.alcatel.com/space/.
About Alcatel
Alcatel provides end-to-end communications solutions, enabling carriers, service providers and enterprises to deliver content to any type of user, anywhere in the world. Leveraging its long-term leadership in telecommunications network equipment as well as its expertise in applications and network services, Alcatel enables its customers to focus on optimizing their service offerings and revenue streams. With sales of EURO 16.5 billion in 2002, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries.
About EMS Technologies, Inc.
EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ELMG) is a leading innovator in the design and manufacture of wireless, satellite and defense electronics solutions, focusing its unique range of advanced technologies on the needs of broadband and mobile information users. Headquartered in Atlanta, EMS employs approximately 1,700 people worldwide, and has manufacturing facilities in Atlanta, Montreal, Ottawa and Brazil.
EMS Technologies' Space & Technology/Atlanta Division develops advanced technology hardware for military and space applications. The Division provides critical subsystems and components for airborne, commercial and space-based communication, and RADAR and electronic warfare systems. With EMS hardware, military customers benefit from the industry's most advanced surveillance, electronic counter-measure and secure communications capabilities. For more information, visit EMS on the World Wide Web at www.ems-t.com.