Page 99 - SAMENA Trends - February 2020

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AIFC to operate this Central Asia technical a wider partnership with Kazakhstan. The our economy.” At the end of February 2019,
hub. OneWeb supports Kazakhstan’s Government of Kazakhstan, like OneWeb, OneWeb successfully launched its first
ambition to digitize its economy and sees the importance of bridging the digital batch of Low Earth Orbiting satellites. The
become a pioneer of new satellite divide and enabling the digitization of its next launch is scheduled for early February
communications technologies, further economy using innovative and modern 2020 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in
developing Kazakhstan’s reputation as satellite technology.” Kairat Kelimbetov, Kazakhstan and this signals the beginning
an innovative country, especially in ‘New Governor of AIFC said: “I am pleased to of regular launches of more than 30
Space’ technology and adding momentum sign the MoU with OneWeb and AIFC is satellites at a time to build OneWeb’s first
to its satellite communications sector. looking forward to bringing innovative phase constellation of 650 satellites, to
Adrian Steckel, CEO of OneWeb said: “I am projects to Kazakhstan by offering the best be followed by further phases to deliver
very pleased that AIFC and OneWeb have environment for setting up business and additional capacity and meet customer
become strategic partners and we see helping drive inward investment. This is the demand.
this as the foundation to build and evolve first step of many that will help to develop

OneWeb Launches another 34 Broadband Satellites

London-based start-up OneWeb has better than expected, and demonstrated over the next 11 months. Unlike SpaceX
launched another 34 satellites into orbit speeds that could rival 5G internet. which will offer broadband satellites
as it races SpaceX to build the world’s first According to CNN Business, the firm has services directly to consumers, OneWeb
high-speed, satellite-based broadband spent the past 11 months figuring out how intends (once it opens for business in
network. The OneWeb satellites launched to mass produce its satellites at its facility 2021) to sell services to governments
from Kazakhstan on Thursday atop a in Florida. Steckel reportedly said OneWeb and corporate customers that provide
Russian-made Soyuz rocket, CNN Business and its manufacturing partner, Airbus, internet service to airplanes, ships and
reported. Both SpaceX and OneWeb had to iron out issues in their production boats. Eventually, the company will sell
are developing their plans for satellite system and supply chain. But now that bandwidth to consumer internet providers,
coverage. Last August OneWeb denied those issues are resolved, he estimates said Steckel. SpaceX meanwhile aiming to
Russia had refused to allow it to deploy its satellites will be rolling off assembly lines start offering its broadband service as soon
satellite-based broadband service in that smoothly for the remainder of the year, and as mid-2020. The other companies racing
country. It said that it had submitted, but a second batch of more than 30 satellites to construct satellite-based broadband
then withdrawn an application, to use radio will be ready for flight as soon as March. networks include Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin,
frequencies in Russia. OneWeb, founded Meanwhile rival SpaceX is building its own which intends to deploy a 3,200-satellite
by US telecoms entrepreneur Greg Wyler constellation of internet satellites, which network known as Project Kuiper. Other
and based in West London, plans to have already includes more than 200 devices, players include Kepler, LeoSat and Telesat
its network in place by 2021. OneWeb and is expected to grow to more than 1,500 Canada.
launched the first six broadband satellites
in February 2019 and it intends to build
an initial network of 650 satellites around
the world operating at 1,200km above the
earth. It was helped in this expensive effort
in March 2019, when OneWeb said it had
raised a total of $3.4 billion (£2.63bn) in
private funding. And now this week it has
added to the six satellites already in orbit
by delivering another 34 units. This launch
is expected to be the first of 10 such
launches that OneWeb will execute this
year, the company’s CEO, Adrian Steckel,
told CNN Business. Each of the launches
will carry at least 34 satellites, according
to the company. Steckel reportedly said
the firm’s first six satellites had performed

99 FEBRUARY 2020