Alcatel says no plans for EADS to join Alcatel/Finmeccanica space alliance

AFX News
Friday, January 28, 2005

PARIS (AFX) – Alcatel SA chief executive Serge Tchuruk said there are no
plans for Astrium, the satellite unit of the European Aeronautics
Defence and Space Co, to join the newly-formed space alliance between
Alcatel and Finmeccanica SpA.

He was speaking at a press conference after this morning’s confirmation
of the merger of the satellite and other space activities of Alcatel and
Finmeccanica. Last summer, Tchuruk had indicated that he is ready to
discuss a space alliance with Astrium ‘if they want to.’

Alcatel and Finmeccanica are already partners in the Eurel consortium
that is bidding for the 3 bln eur Galileo satellite positioning system
contract.

They are in competition with iNavSat, a consortium consisting of EADS,
Inmarsat and Thales.