SES-backed O3b links with Etisalat
February 10, 2011
By Chris Forrester
Satellite operator SES is backing O3b, a new global high-speed Internet network. O3b, which stands for the “other 3 billion” of people with little or no access to the Internet, says it has signed a five-year global framework agreement with Etisalat Group, headquartered in the UAE and with more than 100 million customers across the Middle East, Africa and Asia. This framework agreement will enable any of Etisalat Group’s Operating Companies (OpCos) to benefit from O3b services under a separate bilateral agreement.
O3b, besides SES, has backing from Google, Liberty Global, HSBC and other high-profile names. Based in Jersey (Channel Islands) the company will place a fleet of satellites in Mid-Earth Orbit (MEOs) at about 8,000 kms above the Earth. O3b has raised $1.2bn in funding in order to have its Ka-band fleet fully operational by 2015.
Other posts by :
- Italy joins Germany in IRIS2 alternate thoughts
- Kazakhstan to create museum at Yuri Gagarin launch site
- AST SpaceMobile gets $42 or $1500 price target
- Analyst: GEO bloodbath taking place
- SES AGM results: Appaloosa still objecting
- SpaceX’s Shotwell worth $1.2bn
- SpinLaunch’s revolutionary plan for 280 satellites
- Consolidation impacts satellite sector
- Project Kuiper plans first satellite launch