Page 92 - SAMENA Trends - Jan-Mar 2024

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Ofcom Looks to Approve BeetleSat’s LEO Broadband Satellites

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has proposed to grant an Earth
Station Network License (ESNL) to NSLComm in support of its
plans to launch a new global constellation of 264 satellites in Low
Earth Orbit (LEO), which could be used to provide broadband to
mobile sites (backhaul), as well as military, aviation, maritime and
enterprises. The new BeetleSat constellation is said to be based
upon a new type of Ka-band deployable antennas, as developed
by NSL Comm based in Israel (the company also has European
HQ’s in the UK and Spain). The goal is to launch 264 satellites to an
altitude of 720km, sitting along 12 orbital planes (each comprising
22 satellites). Each spacecraft is designed to handle data capacity use the frequencies 27.5 – 27.8185 GHz, 28.4545 – 28.8265 GHz
of up to 8Gbps (Gigabits per second), with the network delivering a and 29.5 – 30 GHz. At the time of writing, four satellite operators
total capacity of 2Tbps (Terabits per second) once fully deployed. already hold NGSO network licenses, including competing networks
The first test satellite was launched a year ago via a SpaceX Falcon related to Starlink (SpaceX), OneWeb (Eutelsat), Telesat and a
9 rocket and, under the current plan, the initial batch of satellites company that we’re not immediately familiar with – Mangata Edge
for the operational system will be launched during the “second half Ltd. Ofcom’s preliminary view is that “the Beetlesat constellation
of 2026“. However, in order for the network to become operational should be able to coexist with operators of existing systems
in the UK, Ofcom must first grant an ESNL. This would allow the without causing undue degradation. However, we encourage all
new operator to deploy user terminals – the dishes and antennas parties to continue cooperating in good faith between now and the
used by customers to connect to a satellite network. These can be launch of the BeetleSat constellation.” The consultation on their
situated on a building, in the air or at sea. NSLComm has applied to proposed license approval is set to run until 29th February 2024.

Mongolia Launches Two Nano Sats and a Space Sector Sandbox

Mongolia got a head start this week in its ambition to launch a na- growth of its domestic space sector. The ‘sandbox’ is a “compre-
tional satellite with the launch of two domestically manufactured hensive new framework to provide regulatory and policy support
low earth orbit (LEO) nano satellites and a 'sandbox' to develop the for companies to conduct testing and R&D in Mongolia, while mak-
local space industry. The two Cubesat satellites – Ondosat-Owl-1 ing use of the country's newly enhanced connectivity and compet-
and Ondosat-Owl-2 – were successfully launched on Monday itive talent pool.” Uchral Nyam-Osor, Mongolia’s Minister of Digital
aboard a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket from the company's Vandenberg Development and Communications, said the dual nano satellite
Space Force Base launch site. According to a government state- network and space sandbox will position Mongolia as a high-value
ment released on Thursday, Ondosat-Owl-1 and Ondosat-Owl-2 investment and research destination for global companies across
were built by Mongolian company Ondo Space, and successfully the space and technology sectors. "Introducing a regulatory 'sand-
completed rigorous space environmental testing at Japan’s Ky- box' within a comprehensive legislative framework aimed at facil-
ushu Institute of Technology. The Mongolian government also an- itating the business landscape for cutting-edge technologies will
nounced it will establish a 'space sandbox' to support continued ensure that the government actively fosters ongoing growth and
innovation across key domains such as the space economy, arti-
ficial intelligence, IoT, and other emerging technologies,” he said
in a statement. The Cubesat launch comes as the Mongolian gov-
ernment holds discussions with SpaceX to launch the country's
first national satellite: “Chinggis Sat”, named after national hero
Chinggis Khan. The Ministry of Digital Development and Commu-
nications signed a contract with Thales Alenia Space in October
2023 to build Chinggis Sat. No tentative launch date has been an-
nounced as yet. Chinggis Sat is a geostationary Ku-band satellite
that will provide high-speed internet available throughout Mongolia,
including rural areas and underserved nomadic communities, giv-
ing them the necessary connectivity to carry out the government’s
digital transformation ambitions under its Vision 2050 and New
Recovery Policy. Mongolia is also tapping other satellite resources
to enable that connectivity. Last Friday, SpaceX’s Starlink officially
launched services in the country, after receiving permission to do
so last year.

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