Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network operator OneWeb has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with three subsidiaries of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation & Aerospace Industry, namely the national satellite operator Republican Centre of Space Communications, space systems developer Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary (KGS) and spacecraft component supplier Ghalam. The MoU encompasses usage of OneWeb’s low latency, high throughput satellite connectivity platform to provide broadband internet access to remote rural communities in Kazakhstan, building a ground station to provide connectivity to Central Asian countries, and localisation of the supply chain for OneWeb’s LEO satellites.
OneWeb Kazakhstan, registered in Astana International Financial Centre, will facilitate the establishment of an ‘LEO Centre of Excellence’ and enable OneWeb’s connectivity services for the private and public sector, including businesses, schools, hospitals and civil services across Eurasia, the company’s press release declared. A previous MoU between OneWeb and Astana International Financial Centre signed in January 2020 was put on hold as OneWeb entered bankruptcy in March that year before emerging in November with the backing of the UK Government, Bharti Global, SoftBank Group Corp and Hughes Network Systems.