GE-4 Satellite Successfully Launched from Kourou,French Guiana.

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 13, 1999--

GE American Communications, Inc. (GE Americom) announced today the successful launch of its GE-4 satellite at 6:20 p.m. EST by Arianespace from its spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch of GE-4 marked the 17th consecutive success

John F. Connelly, GE Americom's Chairman and CEO said, "As expected Arianespace delivered a smooth and flawless launch of the GE-4 satellite. With the operation of GE-4 next month, Americom will achieve three important goals: to extend our services into South America, to deliver expanded capacity for the very successful Cable2 neighborhood, and to offer a higher-powered Ku-band service for broadband and Internet applications."

GE-4, a hybrid satellite, will be located at 101W.L. and provide high-powered service in three coverage beams. The spacecraft's twenty-four 36 MHz C-band transponders feature 20 watt SSPAs and offer coverage of the 50 US states plus Mexico and the Caribbean. The Ku-band payload includes twenty-four 36 MHz transponders with 110 watt TWTAs with coverage of North America including Alaska and Hawaii, Mexico, Canada and most of Central America. Another four 72 MHz Ku-band transponders also offer 110 watts of power and cover most of South America. The Ku-band transponders are individually switchable between North American and South American beams.

The GE-4 satellite is an A2100 AX spacecraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. GE-4 is the fourth A2100 in the Americom fleet.

Expected to be fully operational by December 21, 1999, GE-4 becomes the 12th satellite in the GE Americom fleet serving the Americas. GE-4's C-band payload will be dedicated to GE Americom's Cable2 neighborhood, which currently reaches 44 million US households. The Ku-band transponders will serve the business, VSAT, broadband and Internet access markets. In its first weeks of service, the satellite will also be used to meet the growing demand for capacity to cover the upcoming millennium. Customers who will use GE-4 when it becomes operational next month include: Cornerstone TV, ENCORE, Ford Motor Company, Gilat, Hollywood Treasures Network and STARZ!

With over twenty years' experience, GE American Communications, Inc. is recognized as a pioneer and a leading provider of global satellite communications solutions. On consummation of the recently announced acquisition of Columbia Communications and integration of Columbia's transoceanic satellite capacity into GE Americom's global fleet, GE Americom will be able to provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to any region in the world. GE Americom currently operates eleven satellites providing services to North America. In addition, GE-1E provides service for European and Middle Eastern markets. With the December 1999 operation of GE-4 and through NahuelSAt, an Argentine satellite operator, GE Americom provides satellite-based communications services throughout South and Latin America. With the launch of GE-1A, scheduled for first quarter 2000, GE Americom will be able to deliver services into China, India and the large population centers of Northeast Asia. GE Americom's customers include ABC Radio Networks, AT&T Alascom, British Telecom, Deutsche Welle, Discovery, Disney, Gannett, ICG, Merlin, NBC, the New York Times, NHK, PaxNet, PBS, SkyCache, TELE Greenland, TV Europa, Viacom and TimeWarner/Turner Broadcasting.

GE Americom is a GE Capital business. GE Capital, with assets of over US$300 billion, is a global, diversified financial services company with 28 specialized businesses. A wholly-owned subsidiary of General Electric Company, GE Capital, based in Stamford, CT., provides equipment management, mid-market and specialized financing, specialty insurance and a variety of consumer services, such as car leasing, home mortgages and credit cards, to businesses and individuals around the world. GE is a diversified services, technology and manufacturing company with operations worldwide.