O3b satellite launch will help transform communities lacking access to the internet
O3b’s latest satellites due to be launched from French Guiana today
Le Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG), Kourou, French Guiana Thursday 18 December 2014: O3b will today launch its latest four satellites from the Space Center in French Guiana. The newly launched satellites will be the latest addition to a network designed to connect the “other 3 billion” (hence the name O3b) people on earth who have historically lacked proper access to the internet, connecting, enabling and transforming parts of the world that are currently unconnected or underserved.
Once launched, the satellites will go through a period of in-orbit testing before being fully integrated into the O3b network. In the meantime, the company continues to bring customers up across the world.
The O3b business model focuses on three key deliverables: high capacity, fiber-like latency, and bandwidth that is significantly lower in cost.
O3b’s satellites utilize multiple spot beams, which significantly increase each satellite’s capacity and decrease the cost per Megabit of bandwidth.
O3b’s vast coverage area includes emerging and insufficiently connected markets in Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. O3b’s satellites orbit at 8,062km above the earth, an altitude known as Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). From this low altitude latency is dramatically reduced, bringing it on par with a long haul fiber transmission. Operators can now consider satellite technology for applications that are latency sensitive such as cloud apps, streaming HD video or multiplayer gaming.
O3b CEO Steve Collar said:
“This launch represents another important milestone for O3b. We believe in a world where affordable, high speed connectivity is always within reach for everyone. The theme of the launch is “Transforming Communities”, in line with our goal of bringing the “other 3 billion” unconnected people in the world into the digital age.”
About O3b Networks Limited
O3b Networks Limited is a global satellite service provider operating a next-generation satellite network for telecommunications operators, Internet service providers, enterprise and government customers in emerging markets. The O3b system combines the global reach of satellite with the speed of a fiber-optic network providing billions of consumers and businesses in nearly 180 countries with low-cost, high-speed, low latency Internet and mobile connectivity. O3b Networks’ investors include SES, Google, Liberty Global, HSBC Principal Investments, Northbridge Venture Partners, Allen & Company, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Sofina, Satya Capital and Luxempart. O3b Networks is headquartered in St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands.
