Long-standing relationship renewed to cover Astrium’s new satellite resources; GAF AG to sell Astrium’s satellite data and value-added products in Germany

Friedrichshafen, Germany – 29 January 2013 – Astrium Services’ GEO-Information experts have now signed up GAF AG, one of Europe’s leading providers of Earth observation and geo-information solutions, as a channel partner for their satellite data and value-added products in Germany.

Users in Germany can consequently resort to an additional source for accessing Astrium’s substantial portfolio of optical and radar satellite data, as well as derived value-added products.

“With the brand new optical satellites – a remarkable three satellite launches in just over one year – and the complementary radar satellites, Astrium’s data portfolio is not only highly attractive for our customers, it is also an important source of input data for the customized products and solutions we offer”, Peter Volk, Managing Director of GAF AG, says.

With privileged access to a unique satellite fleet comprising the TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X radar satellites, the SPOT 5 and 6 optical satellite family and the very-high-resolution Pléiades constellation, Astrium and its partners can offer daily coverage worldwide as well as weather-independent acquisitions, at a variety of resolutions. Based on this data, a substantial portfolio of geo-information products and services as well as customized solutions is available to customers around the Globe.

“GAF has been a reseller for our SPOT satellite data and services for many years, and we are happy to extend this successful relationship which now covers all of our data sources and value-added products,” says Rob Postma, Head of Sales in Europe for GEO-Information Services. He adds that “as one of the leading players in our industry with an excellent network, we are convinced that GAF is the perfect partner to help efficiently deliver our recently enriched portfolio to the geo user community.”

The contract enables GAF to sell Astrium’s complete data and value-added services portfolio to users throughout Germany. With this agreement, GAF AG is part of Astrium’s global geo-information services Channel Partner Network.

About GAF AG
GAF was founded in Munich 27 years ago and was the first German company dedicated to the applied use of remote sensing data and technology. Today, GAF is one of Europe's largest providers of geo-information services with a focus on Earth observation. Of particular note are the company's position as one of the largest distributors of commercial Earth observation data in the German-speaking countries and indeed in Europe, its longstanding and wide-ranging thematic and technical experience in the use of remote sensing data, and its extensive domestic and international experience with regard to project implementation and provision of services. The company has an excellent standing with many domestic customers, as well as with organisations such as the EU, ESA and the World Bank. GAF has experience from international activities and projects in more than 100 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America, and with its 170 members of staff it offers a comprehensive portfolio of data products and services, including Earth observation and other geo-data products, data analyses, GIS and database implementation, information production, and capacity building projects in the fields of natural resources, environment, critical infrastructure and security. GAF is a member of the Telespazio Group, a subsidiary of Finmeccanica and Thales.

About Astrium GEO-Information Services
Through its GEO-Information business, Astrium Services is recognized as one of the leaders in the geo-spatial information market, not least thanks to the now fully integrated skills and resources of the former Spot Image and Infoterra. The company provides decision-makers with complete solutions enabling them to increase security, boost agricultural performance, maximize oil & gas or mining operations, improve their management of natural resources, and protect the environment. It has exclusive access to data from the SPOT, TerraSAR-X, TanDEM-X and Pléiades satellites, coupled with a complete range of space-based data sources and airborne acquisition capability allowing it to offer an unrivalled scope of Earth observation products and services. This extensive portfolio covers the entire geo-information supply chain, from the generation of images to the provision of high added-value information to end-users. By leveraging the synergies and expertise available across the whole of Astrium Services, its GEO-Information teams develop innovative, yet competitive, custom-made solutions based on the combination and integration of Earth observation, navigation and high-end telecommunications.