O3b

What Is O3b and Why Does It Matter?

O3b is a satellite constellation in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) owned and operated by SES, providing lower-latency broadband connectivity to remote locations for various industries. Imagine the internet as a vast network of roads; while traditional satellites are like long-distance highways circling high above the equator, O3b’s MEO satellites are more akin to expressways closer to Earth. This proximity means faster data delivery and less latency, making it ideal for applications that require quick response times.

History and Evolution of O3b

The constellation began offering service in March 2014, initially planned for launch in 2010. Just like a ship setting sail on uncharted waters, the first four satellites were launched on June 25, 2013, with repairs made after discovering a hardware defect. Additional launches followed in July 2014, December 2014, March 2018, and April 2019, with more expected through 2021-2024.

Applications and Partnerships

Operators such as Royal Caribbean International and the US Department of Defense have prebooked capacity on O3b. For example, imagine a cruise ship sailing across vast oceans; fast internet is crucial for both passengers and crew. Similarly, government agencies need reliable connectivity to support their operations. The constellation has also been used for various applications, including providing weather data and forecasts to American Samoa.

Recent Developments

In September 2020, SES and Microsoft announced an agreement to jointly invest in Azure Orbital ground stations for medium Earth orbit (MEO) and Earth Observation segments. This partnership is like bringing together two powerful engines to propel the internet forward. In October 2020, Mercy Ships announced it would use SES’s Signature Maritime connectivity services via O3b satellites for remote viewing and diagnosis on board the Global Mercy.

Government and Military Applications

In February 2021, SES announced contracts with the US Department of Defense for portable O3b service to support military personnel and O3b mission-critical communications in Southwest Asia. This is akin to ensuring soldiers have reliable communication lines even when they’re far from home. In February 2021, SES also announced that its Signature Cruise broadband connectivity via O3b would be used on Virgin Voyages’ ships Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady to provide passengers with free fast onboard wi-fi internet access.

Business and Cloud Services

In June 2021, SES joined the Amazon Web Services Direct Connect Delivery Partner programme using the O3b constellation to provide customers with access to AWS cloud-based applications and services from locations around the world. This partnership is like building a bridge between different clouds, making data transfer seamless. In August 2021, Microsoft became the first cloud provider customer for O3b, buying managed satellite connectivity services from SES for the Microsoft Azure cloud computing service.

Defense and Multi-Domain Operations

In December 2021, the US Army conducted trials of commercial satellite constellations, including O3b, as part of Multi-Domain Operations. This is like ensuring every soldier has a map to navigate through different terrains. In December 2021, Honeywell, Hughes Network Systems and SES demonstrated multi-orbit high-speed airborne connectivity using Honeywell’s JetWave MCX terminal and a Hughes HM-series modem, with connections moving between GEO/MEO links in under 30 seconds.

Next Generation O3b mPOWER

In May 2022, SES used the O3b satellite constellation to demonstrate MEO satellites providing high-speed 3G and 4G connectivity to remote regions of Kazakhstan. This is like bringing internet access to areas that were previously cut off from the digital world. On December 16, 2022, the first two of SES’s next generation MEO satellite constellation, O3b mPOWER, were successfully launched, with the service expected to begin operations in Q3 2023.

The satellites are deployed in a circular orbit along the equator at an altitude of 8,063 km and equipped with twelve fully steerable Ka-band antennas that use 4.3 GHz of spectrum. In September 2017, SES announced an order for seven O3b mPOWER satellites from Boeing Satellite Systems, expected to launch in 2021. The O3b mPOWER constellation will deliver broadband internet services with speeds of hundreds of megabits to 10 gigabits through 30,000 spot beams. Software-defined routing will direct traffic between the MEO satellites and SES’ geostationary fleet.

With the launch of O3b mPOWER, the constellation is poised to revolutionize internet access in remote areas, making it easier for everyone to stay connected. Just like a lighthouse guiding ships through treacherous waters, O3b’s MEO satellites are ensuring that even the most remote locations can enjoy reliable and fast internet.