The first four satellites of the O3b satellite network are scheduled to lift off from Kourou, French Guiana, today on board a Soyuz launcher, bringing broadband to billions in the developing world.
Many parts of the world, including parts of the Africa, Latin America, The Middle East, Asia and The Pacific, do not have infrastructure conducive to 21st century communications in place. In many of these regions, the only way to provide this effectively, efficiently and in a timely manner is to do so using O3b’s fast fibre speed satellite network.
The O3b satellites are part of the deployment of a network of eight satellites which will combine the reach of satellites with the speed of fibre.
They will operate in medium Earth Orbit, reducing the network cost and latency or delay that web users experience when loading a Web page. This will help connect consumers in the developing world (“the other 3-billion” or O3b) who currently lack proper internet access. A new and exciting world will open to billions of people who, up to now, have not experienced the benefits of fast Internet connectivity.
The network of satellites will deliver broadband connectivity everywhere on Earth within 45 degrees of latitude north and south of the equator, including markets in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, markets where demand is expected to remain higher than supply over the coming years.
The network of O3b satellites include customers such as Etisalat, Digicel and Royal Caribbean Cruises while investors include Google, SES, Liberty Global and HSBC.