O3b Networks - Latency

Below is a table showing a comparison of some latency figures of the O3b and a typical geosynchronous satellite system. The O3b Networks MEO orbit constellation is at an altitude of 8,063 Kilometers, while the geosynchronous satellite at 35,786 Kilometers.

O3b Networks - 2

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

O3b Networks

What is special about it? I've heard about Teledesic story happened more than 10 years ago. At a glance O3b Networks offers similar things. Then again, what is special? Could it happen that they just repeat the old story again? Hmmm, to be honest, I don't know .. :-D .. What attracts me for the first time to O3b because it's Google's! :-D ... I see that Google always innovates cleverly, offering people good stuff and often for free!! Now, that they've backed O3b, it should be something different, right? :-D .. As I wrote this, if everything okay, I'll meet some of O3b guys tomorrow. But let's open our eyes and look a bit more deep at their concept.. :-D

Google's Container - Soon in MY ?

I guessed it already :-D ... but I just found things that support it. So, 2010 or early 2011 Google's container (data center) will come to Malaysia. Singapore is overpopulated ? Seems so. What do you think? :-D

IET - Into the Light, by David Sandham

Google vs. Bing

As reported by several media, Microsoft's new search engine "Bing" has made a good debut in the business. StatCounter has identified that after two weeks of its formal introduction, Bing has overtook Yahoo as the second rank search engine, following the incumbent Google :-D ... O.k. true, it might still be changed as time goes, Yahoo might strike back :-D ... Google might innovate something to defend its (currently-reduced) market share.

SJC (2)

According to Evans (EGS):

"The supply contract for South East Asia Japan (SJC) seems at the time of writing about to be signed. This pan Asian system has landing sites in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong and Japan; the system has additional optional segments to Vietnam and Guam. Installation is expected in 2010."

Source/Courtesy : Graham Evans/WFN

SJC Plan

Southeast-asia Japan Cable (SJC) is currently in the planning stage. This second Google-led cable initiative will extend Unity cable to Southeast Asia.

• RFS: earliest 2011 (Alan Mauldin's estimate)
• Corsortium members: Google, Bharti, SingTel, KDDI, Global Transit (all these companies are also member of Unity Japan-US)
• Consortium members (SJC only): Globe Telecom Philippines, TOT Thailand
• Contractors/suppliers: ??? the same as Unity ???
• Current status: planning stage; preparation of supply contract
• CAPEX ???
  

Southeast-asia Japan Cable (SJC) Plan (Source/Courtesy Telegeography)

Unity Cable System

Unity is a new multi-terabit transpacific cable system with Google's taste :-D As you can see at this post, I've misunderstood that EAC Pacific would completely be a new transpac cable. It shall actually be a part of the Unity cable. To my knowledge, there are currently three competing parties offering new Asia-US connections:

• Trans-Pacific Express (TPE) : Verizon's Taste :-)
• Asia America Gateway (AAG)
• Unity : PACNET, Google etc.

Any other planned cables ?