Page 85 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

SATELLITE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

SES, Vodafone PNG Partner to Deliver 4G/5G Services Via Satellite to Papua

New Guinea

Papua New Guinea (PNG) now has a new mobile service provider and internet market has enormous growth potential, but this
to choose from as Digitec Communications Limited (t/a Vodafone has been hampered by geographical challenges, limited speed
PNG) and SES have partnered up to provide 4G and 5G high-speed and connectivity choices. We are pleased to partner with SES
mobile broadband services. Both companies announced that the to provide reliable high-bandwidth mobile connectivity of up to
reliable high-speed data service will be delivered via SES’s O3b 5G speeds delivered through their MEO satellites. John Turnbull,
medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite constellation, which will further Vice President Pacific, Networks Sales at SES said with our O3b
enable economic opportunities and bridge the digital divide in constellation we’ve been connecting communities and industries
the world’s second-largest island. Under this partnership, the O3b around the world for almost a decade, positively impacting their
MEO satellite constellation will provide Digitec with high-speed lives and their businesses. Our partnership with Digitec brings their
mobile backhaul services for 5 locations in PNG. With over 86% customers with a reliable, high-throughput and low-latency solution,
of its population residing in rural areas, much of PNG’s population underscoring the value of our unique satellite connectivity. With
is still underserved despite an increase in internet penetration over 86% of its population residing in rural areas, much of PNG’s
across the country at 15% and mobile connections at 34% as of population is still underserved despite an increase in internet
January 20211. Having started services in April, Vodafone is the penetration across the country at 15% and mobile connections
third largest and newest mobile operator in PNG. Its entry into at 34% as of January 20211. Having started services in April,
PNG’s telecommunications market addresses the demand among Vodafone is the third largest and newest mobile operator in PNG.
consumers and businesses for reliable high-speed connectivity Its entry into PNG’s telecommunications market addresses the
and broadband Internet access. The connectivity that the O3b demand among consumers and businesses for reliable high-speed
MEO satellite constellation brings is not new to PNG as it’s been connectivity and broadband Internet access. The connectivity
used by other mobile operators and internet service providers that the O3b MEO satellite constellation brings is not new to PNG
in the country since 2014. During the APEC 2018 summit it also as it’s been used by other mobile operators and internet service
helped with connectivity needs when PNG hosted this event. providers in the country since 2014. During the APEC 2018 summit
SES’s O3b system is the world’s only commercially successful it also helped with connectivity needs when PNG hosted this event.
non-geostationary satellite system and delivers low-latency, SES’s O3b system is the world’s only commercially successful
high-performance connectivity worldwide. The fiber-like speeds non-geostationary satellite system and delivers low-latency, high-
enable the delivery of cloud computing applications and services performance connectivity worldwide. The fiber-like speeds enable
to bridge the digital divide, while connecting communities and the delivery of cloud computing applications and services to bridge
industries regardless of the remoteness of the location. Ivan the digital divide, while connecting communities and industries
Fong, Director at Vodafone PNG said Papua New Guinea's mobile regardless of the remoteness of the location.

Inmarsat Team Works to Fine-Tune PNT Satellite Navigation

An Inmarsat-led team of companies in the UK, building on national and aviation users in UK waters and airspace. It increases accuracy
expertise and prior experience within the group, has begun in positioning to a few centimetres of accuracy rather than the few
broadcasting a satellite navigation signal as part of a program to metres provided by standard GPS. This is a similar system to that
explore the creation of a sovereign national capability in resilient already under evaluation in Australia and New Zealand, supported
positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) for the aviation and by Inmarsat. Since leaving the European Union, the UK is not
maritime sectors. The signal, being broadcast in coordination with part of the Galileo satnav system and cannot use the European
the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the European Space Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) safety of life
Agency (ESA) and the European Union Space Program Agency (SOL) services, which enable the use of GPS for airport approach
(EUSPA), is now stable and operational, enabling on-going testing and landing operations for aircraft. By repurposing the SBAS
and validation by industry, regulators, and users. Inmarsat, the transponder on Inmarsat’s I-3 F5 satellite in geostationary orbit
world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, alongside at 54° west, the UKSBAS signal enables testing of this potential
British partners Goonhilly Earth Station Limited and GMVNSL alternative system to begin. Built by Inmarsat’s Athena partner
Limited, is delivering the UK Space Agency-funded tests with the Lockheed Martin and launched in 1998, I-3F5 covers the UK as
European Space Agency via the latter’s Navigation Innovation part of its Atlantic Ocean region service overlay. This makes it
and Support Program (NAVISP). UKSBAS – the UK Space-Based an ideal candidate to participate in this test and demonstrates
Augmentation System – generates an overlay test signal to the US the commitment to sustainability of Inmarsat with a satellite that
Global Positioning System (GPS), fully-compliant with International has already served the equivalent of several low Earth orbit (LEO)
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, to enable assessment satellite life cycles. Todd McDonell, President, Global Government
of more precise, resilient and high integrity navigation for maritime at Inmarsat, said “The Inmarsat team is inspired by delivering

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