Page 56 - SAMENA Trends - Oct-Nov 2023

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components. In 2023 alone, SES has
rolled out and tested more than 160 O3b
mPOWER terminals over the existing O3b
constellation to serve mobility, telecom,
government, and enterprise customers.
“With the fifth and sixth O3b mPOWER
satellites launched and going operational
in the next few months, we are gearing
up to deliver the high-performance
connectivity services our customers need.
By building resiliency into the network, we
are confident our customers will be able
to depend on us to deliver the reliable
and secure connectivity required to run
their operations,” said Ruy Pinto, CEO of
SES. O3b mPOWER commercial service
is expected to begin during the second quarter of 2024. For additional information on O3b mPOWER, visit the newsroom.

SES-Led EAGLE-1 Onboards TNO and Airbus to Deliver Ground Station for
Quantum Key Distribution

The SES-led consortium of European design, the adaptive optics and overall EAGLE-1 program will demonstrate the
companies, responsible for development system engineering, and the Airbus feasibility of quantum key distribution
of the quantum secure space-based team in the Netherlands will develop the (QKD) technology via satellite within the
EAGLE-1 system and working in close support technologies, control platform, EU and beyond, enabling next generation
collaboration with the European Space and implementation. The collaboration is cybersecurity for the Member States. It
Agency (ESA), is joined by TNO and Airbus jointly funded by the Netherlands Space will also provide valuable mission data
Netherlands B.V., to design and build an Office (NSO) and NXTGEN HIGHTECH. The for the future deployment of a secure
optical ground station for the mission. The organizations are joined by: quantum communication infrastructure
contract was signed today by the partners • Officina Stellare (OFS) responsible for for the EU (EuroQCI). “EAGLE-1 is yet
at the Space Tech Expo in Bremen. the telescope and dome design another example of how Europe can
The optical ground station for EAGLE-1 • Celestia-STS who will be designing the leverage its expertise in space and satellite
represents a highly advanced and optical digital modem in collaboration industries and bring together partners
complex system which will be able to with TNO and TESAT from various parts of the continent to push
receive quantum encryption keys from • Demcon who will deliver the design of the the technology and innovation boundaries.
the EAGLE-1 satellite, and will have at its wave front sensor, a critical component With these new partners, Europe is one step
core a system that integrates fast adaptive for the adaptive optics closer to securing an end-to-end solution
optics, accurate mirrors, a robust fiber Co-funded by the European Space Agency for quantum communications,” said Milton
coupling, a novel laser beacon system, (ESA) and the European Commission Torres, Chief Technology Officer of SES.
and a stabilized telescope. TNO and Airbus (EC), together with the space agencies of “We’re excited about this cooperation. By
Netherlands B.V. will lead the collaboration Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Italy, the combining TNO’s expertise in free space
to design and build the optical ground Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and optics and quantum, we can contribute
station, where TNO is responsible for the the Czech Republic, and the industry, the to the future of secure communication
networks for Europe. This development
will strengthen the position of Europe,
the Netherlands and our partners in a
global emerging value chain,” said Kees
Buijsrogge, Director TNO Space. Rob
Postma, Managing Director of Airbus
Netherlands B.V.: “This contract marks
the beginning of the development of a
promising product for the laser satcom
market. In parallel, we are preparing the
next steps in industrializing the ground
station for the European quantum
communication infrastructure.”

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