Global satellite operator SES S.A. (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) and Jersey, Channel Islands-based O3B Networks Limited (O3b), have announced that SES has made a minority investment in O3b to support the development of O3b’s satellite-based, global internet backbone that’s designed to reach the “other three billion” people in the developing world who today do not have access to the internet. SES joins Google, Liberty Global, HSBC and North Bridge Venture Partners to become a large investor in O3b.
SES will invest a total of 75 MUSD in the company and will provide engineering and commercial support to O3b in order to assist the company’s development. O3b is building the world’s first ultra-low latency, fiber speed satellite network to serve as a global internet backbone and next generation backhaul infrastructure for people and businesses in emerging markets. The company will be able to combine the speed of a fiber network with the global reach of a satellite system, and will partner with telecommunications providers and internet service providers (ISPs) to serve billions. O3b will initially launch eight satellites that will be placed in medium Earth orbit (8,000 kilometers from the earth), which is some four times closer to the planet than geostationary satellites at more than 35,000 kilometers, and accounts for the low latency. Based on O3b’s current spectrum allocation in the Ka frequency band, the company has the option to launch many more satellites in the future. This innovative satellite system will cover approximately 70 percent of the world’s population with fiber quality internet connectivity at attractive terms and conditions.
