Probably because Airbus Defence and Space (formally known as EADS Astrium) -- the contractor which builds Ariane -- has a factory there: http://www.space-airbusds.com/en/locations/toulouse-gxq.html

basically, the Ariane rockets partially built there and are controlled from there, and the satellites are built and controlled there.

I guess the meet each other pretty often, and now, the satellite guys are going out with another rocket company.

> and now, the satellite guys are going out with another rocket company.

Looking quickly at a random handful of currently operating Eutelsat satellites, two launched by Ariane, one by Zenit (Russian/American/Norwegian/Ukranian), one by Proton (Russian), one by Atlas V (American). I think Eutelsat is already pretty familiar with the multi-vendor approach.

oops, Ok. I couldn't find the info actually.