O3b Networks - 2

Below are several quotes mentioning O3b Networks from media/third parties' point of view.


Wikipedia

O3b Networks, Ltd. is a network company aiming to build an Internet infrastructure based on satellites to provide Internet access to third world countries. The company was founded by Greg Wyler. The name "O3b" stands for "[The] Other 3 Billion", referring to the population of the world where the Internet is not available without help. O3b is financially backed by Google, HSBC and cable television magnate John Malone.

By 2010 O3b plans to launch a constellation of 16 satellites into orbit to provide inexpensive Internet service to billions of users in remote areas of the world.

O3b's ability to raise the estimated US$500 million to launch its first eight satellites has been questioned. O3B's initial press release on September 9, 2008, states the system will be launched in late 2010 and the satellites are being manufacturered by Thales Alenia Space. They have contracted Sea Launch to launch the first batch of Medium Earth Orbit satellites by deploying the Zenit-3SL system.

The O3B website shows PDR (Preliminary Design Review) of the satellites was completed by Thales Alenia Space in February, 2009.

O3b Networks plans to provide a high-capacity satellite connection to the Internet on which telephone companies and Internet service providers in emerging markets will be able to build their high-speed mobile and web-access offers. O3b Networks will offer fiber performance via satellite at prices comparable to fiber in developed regions. By allowing direct connection to core networks and 3G Cellular/WiMAX towers, the O3b Networks system will completely change the economics of telecommunications infrastructure in the world's fastest-growing markets for communications services. Latency is reduced by putting the satellites in a MEO orbit, less than a twentieth of a second away at light speed as opposed to the half second needed to reach geostationary orbit.

Commsday

Start-up Google-funded satellite operator O3B Networks has put its hand up as a future Australian National Broadband Network provider, telling a Senate committee that its planned fleet of medium-earth-orbit satellites will provide low latency rates that are sufficient for core broadband use.

O3B CEO Greg Tyler:
“with only 124ms of round trip latency, and 62ms one way” his proposed fleet will allow for “natural conversation” on video conferencing and fast response times for “online gaming.” He says typical latency rates on geosats exceed 550ms.

“O3b satellites are designed to provide high bandwidth links (up to 10gbps) to telecom operators as a direct substitute for fiber. O3b can also provide cost effective fiber quality links directly to cellular towers for rebroadcast over WiMAX or 3G networks, as well as high bandwidth directly to the home, schools and businesses.”

“In the Australian environment a combination of terrestrial wireless and O3b satellites will be a cost effective way to reach the remaining households not connected by fiber. For significantly less than 10% of the budget, the remaining homes can be reached.”

O3B Networks is funded by HSBC, Google and Liberty Global and says its first satellites will be delivered by late 2010. It has already signed capacity and reseller contracts with Nigeria’s Netcom Africa, Galaxy Wireless and DirectOnPC, Afghanistan’s Neda Telecommunications, Democratic Republic of Congo’s Microcom, Guyana’s Quark Communications and Ghana’s SatConsult. Earlier this year, it claimed $US200m of customer contracts and $US400m of funding.

Under the Australian government’s $US31b NBN plans announced in April, satellite is likely to be used as a solution for areas that are uneconomic for fibre or terrestrial wireless, possibly covering as much as 2% or 400,000 people.