JERSEY, Channel Islands--()--O3b Networks Limited, the developer of a new fiber quality, satellite-based, global Internet backbone announced today successful completion of the Critical Design Review (CDR) of the Constellation Space Segment. This significant event in O3b’s development validated that the satellite design will exceed its technical specifications, allowing O3b to deliver an even higher level of competitiveness to the market.
“The use of significant heritage has allowed us to complete the design ahead of plan, as we are on track to deliver the first eight spacecraft on time for launch in the first quarter of 2013”
“The maturity of the design and the tests completed to date gives us great confidence in our system. Our customers will benefit from the improved performance and the system will now serve terminals within a broader footprint of up to 700km diameter. The constellation will offer over 70 Gbps of bandwidth on a global basis at round trip latencies below 130 milliseconds and at a cost that will deliver real value to our customers. Our vision to connect the unconnected has moved a step closer to reality,” said Brian Holz, Chief Technical Officer, O3b Networks Limited.
Satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space successfully passed the CDR by demonstrating completion of the design phase.
“The use of significant heritage has allowed us to complete the design ahead of plan, as we are on track to deliver the first eight spacecraft on time for launch in the first quarter of 2013,” said Emanuel Grave, Executive Vice President Telecommunication of Thales Alenia Space. “100% of the supply chain subcontracts have been started and have completed qualification reviews. Our manufacturing facilities are ready to begin integration of the O3b constellation early in the third quarter of this year.”
The CDR was a four-day process held in Cannes, France, during which O3b’s engineering team reviewed the space system design to ensure compliance against the required specifications. By fully characterizing the RF performance and completing qualification testing of the satellite antenna subsystem, a significant aspect of the link performance of the O3b system could be validated.
“We are determined to exceed our customers’ expectations every step of the way. Our capacity is fully flexible and can be targeted to meet their demands whether to support high throughput internet trunking, provide cellular backhaul networks or revolutionize bandwidth and connectivity in market segments such as maritime, oil & gas and mining. We are striving to deliver a combination of low cost, low latency and high throughput that has never been offered in the market previously and this was an important milestone along the path to delivering on that promise,” commented Brian.
About O3b Networks Limited.
O3b Networks is building a new fiber-quality, satellite-based, global Internet backbone for telecommunications operators (telcos) and Internet service providers (ISPs) in emerging markets. The O3b Networks system will combine global reach and the speed of a fiber-optic network. With investments and operational support from SES, Google, Liberty Global, HSBC Principal Investments, Northbridge Venture Partners, Allen & Company, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Sofina and Satya Capital, the O3b system will provide telcos and ISPs with a low-cost, high-speed alternative to connect their 3G, WiMAX and fixed-line networks to the rest of the world. This will allow billions of consumers and businesses in more than 150 countries to benefit from high-speed Internet connectivity for educational, medical and commercial applications. O3b Networks’ headquarters is in St. John, Jersey, Channel Islands.
About Thales Alenia Space
European leader in satellite systems and a major player in orbital infrastructures, Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%). Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio embody the two groups’ “Space Alliance”. Thales Alenia Space sets the global standard in solutions for space telecoms, radar and optical Earth observation, defense and security, navigation and science. The company, which achieved revenues of Euro 2 billion in 2010, has a total of 7,200 employees located in 10 industrial sites in France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Belgium.
This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. Any public offering of securities to be made in the United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from the issuer and that will contain detailed information about the issuer and management, as well as financial statements. The company does not intend to register any part of the present offering in the United States.
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