The alliance will bring additional satellite capacity to the burgeoning Russian market, the firms said. GSS and SES will tackle the increased need for services in the direct-to-home TV and internet, cable and satellite broadcaster, and telecommunications operator areas.

SES has already re-located its ASTRA 1F satellite to better cover the country. The move “is good news for the Russian market,” Dimitry Sevastiyanov, general director of GSS, said in a joint press statement. “The additional satellite arrives at a time of high demand and scarce capacity and brings us in a position to meet the actual and growing capacity needs of our customers.”

“The launch of ASTRA 5B scheduled for 2013 we will bring additional capacity to Russia,” Romain Bausch, president and CEO of SES, noted.  “With Gazprom we have found an excellent partner to tap this highly important growth market.”

This is not SES’ first foray into Russia. In 2010, the company signed an agreement with telecommunications firm Vimpelcom to service the business communications market.

GSS, more than 80 percent owned by the Russian energy giant Gazprom, operates several satellites and ground stations across the country.

Earlier this year, Betzdorf-based SES reported its revenue for the first half of 2011 was up three percent and operating profit increased by 4.1%.