Notification of major interest in shares received by SSL International plc on 18 October 2004 

                     SSL International plc ("the Company")                    

                                                                              

The Company has received notification, pursuant to sections 198 to 203 of the Companies Act 1985, that, as at close of business on 14 October 2004, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. was interested, by attribution only, in a total of 18,973,035 shares of the Company representing 10.01% of the issued share capital. The shares were registered as follows:



Holder                                  Shares                                
                                                                              
Goldman Sachs Securities (Nominees)     185,000                               
Limited                                                                       
                                                                              
Goldman Sachs International CREST Acc:  18,788,035                            
CREPTEMP                                                                      



M Buxton-Smith Assistant Company Secretary

Date of notification ..19 October 2004.....