- O3b Networks, Ltd.
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O3b Networks, Ltd. is a next generation network service provider building the world’s first Medium Earth Orbit satellite constellation. The network will combine the ubiquitous reach of satellite with the speed of fiber to deliver satellite Internet services and mobile backhaul services to emerging markets. The company was founded by Greg Wyler in 2007. The name "O3b" stands for "[The] Other 3 Billion", referring to the population of the world where broadband Internet is not available without help. O3b is financially backed by SES World Skies, Google, HSBC, Liberty Global, Allen and Company, Northbridge Venture Partners, Soroof International, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Sofina and Satya Capital.
By the first half of 2013 O3b plans to launch a constellation of 8 satellites into orbit to provide low latency Internet services to billions of users in remote areas of the world.[1]
O3b will primarily serve mobile operators and internet service providers, providing for voice and data. The network will consist of eight ‘Ka-based satellites’ orbiting at 8,000 km, four times closer than regular geostationary satellites. The company says[2] that the proximity of the satellites and their use of the Ka band will mean strong performance.
Contents
Status
O3b Networks continues to secure customer contracts in anticipation of its service launch in the first half of 2013. Operators in the Cook Islands,[3] Pakistan[4] and Nigeria[5] have recently prebooked capacity on the O3b constellation to serve their respective markets.
O3b also announced the selection of Europe Media Port (EMP)[6] the world’s fastest growing teleport in 2009 according to the World Teleport Association – to be the first provider of Gateway Teleport services for O3b’s global network. O3b also announced a contract with ViaSat for the production and installation of Ka-band infrastructure indicating significant progress in the deployment of O3b’s Next Generation Network. The value of the ViaSat contract is approximately $47 million.[7]
The company has recently had a change of CEO once financial closure had been obtained. Mark Rigolle, the former Chief Finance Officer of SES is returning to SES. In his place Steve Collar joins from SES WORLD SKIES where he served as Senior Vice President of Business and Market Development for SES WORLD SKIES and was formerly an O3b board member representing SES' interests.[8] This change marks the 5th CEO for O3b in three years.
O3b has attracted investment interest with SES[9] joining Google, Liberty Global, HSBC and North Bridge Venture Partners to the $465 million buyer credit facility the company secured from Coface, the export credit agency acting on behalf of the French government.[10]
O3b has also recently raised a total of $1.2 billion dollars to fully finance the construction of its satellites[11]
See also
- O3b satellite constellation
- Satellite phone
- ASTRA2Connect
- ASTRA2Connect Maritime Broadband
- Globalstar
- ICO Global Communications
- Inmarsat
- Iridium Satellite LLC
- Orbcomm
- SkyTerra
- SkyWave Mobile Communications
- Solaris Mobile
- TerreStar Corporation
References
- ^ Kyra Phillips (2009). Making the Web worldwide (streaming video). CNN.
- ^ "Press release". Wantedworldwide.net. 2010-12-16. http://www.wantedworldwide.net/news/7100/o3b_networks_uses_jersey_channel_islands_as_base.html. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
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External links
Categories:- Internet companies of the United States
- Satellite Internet
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