Stéphane Beyazian's questions to SES SA (SGBAF) leadership • Q1 2025
Question
Stéphane Beyazian inquired if the IRIS² project cost seems high and has room for revision, about SES's exposure to potential U.S. space budget cuts, and about Starlink's C-band strategy.
Answer
CEO Adel Al-Saleh assured that IRIS² is subject to a strict IRR requirement and that SES can exit the contract if returns are not met, ensuring capital discipline. Regarding U.S. budgets, he noted that while some specific projects face pressure, aggregate demand remains strong and is balanced by growing European demand. On competition, he focused on SES's own strategy to be a robust alternative with its multi-orbit solutions (mPOWER, IRIS², next-gen GEOs) rather than speculating on Starlink's specific plans.