Page 95 - SAMENA Trends - September 2019

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SpaceChain Receives Support from European Space Agency for Blockchain

Satellite Technology

ESA Business Applications and Space Solutions, under its Kick- further developed with additional funding from ESA’s Business
start Activity program, has awarded funding to SpaceChain UK to Applications and Space Solutions. SpaceChain’s satellite
further develop and identify commercial use-cases for its satellite blockchain technology is designed to bring more security to the
blockchain technology. ESA’s Kick-start Activity Program is transmission of digital currencies and smart contracts by using
designed to make it easier for entrepreneurs and start-ups to a distributed satellite network and multi-signature transactions.
explore thematic areas with promising business potential and Thus far, SpaceChain has developed an open-source operating
to create new commercial services and applications relying on system, and launched and flight-tested two blockchain nodes
space assets and data. Successful Kick-start projects can be into space in the past 12 months. Current blockchain transactions
carry significant security risks if a user’s private signature key is
compromised. To solve this problem, SpaceChain has developed
a multi-signature satellite wallet that is faster and more secure
than the traditional method. Instead of using one private key, the
SpaceChain wallet can use a two of three signature scheme, where
at least two signatures are required to complete transactions, with
the satellite acting as one of those signatures. The funds in the
wallet remain safe even in the event of a connectivity failure due to
the fact that the two ground-based signatures can still complete
the transaction. SpaceChain plans to collaborate with Deimos
Space UK, whose expertise in flight systems, ground segment
systems, space situational awareness, and satellite navigation
make them an ideal partner.

Remote African Areas to Receive SATCOM Connectivity via Azercosmos and

INTERSAT Partnership

Azercosmos and INTERSAT signed a specific to the continent of Africa, using the that the firm’s SkyFi service will provide
long-term partnership during IBC2019 firm’s newly launched SkyFi services. With INTERSAT with a competitive edge for
for delivery of consumer broadband and this service, the company has set a new successful service expansion throughout
enterprise services and to provide high trend for broadband satellite internet by Africa. Rashad Nabiyev, the CEO of
quality and high throughput internet delivering a service that gives consumers Azercosmos, added that the company
connectivity to remote areas of Africa, unlimited data with faster speeds and is pleased to expand the scope of this
thereby reducing the digital divide on better service experience. Subrata Roy, longstanding relationship with INTERSAT
the continent. This partnership enables the CTO of INTERSAT, noted that with the to now enter into this partnership for the
Azercosmos to use INTERSAT’s teleport proven superiority of Hughes-Jupiter2 delivery of broadband services over the
and ground infrastructure and expertise HUB platform, the company is confident firm’s satellite to the people of Africa.
to deliver consumer broadband and
enterprise services to every city, town, and
community on the continent. Azercosmos
and Intersat are joining forces to develop the
satellite broadband market in Africa, which
is currently flooded with multiple offerings
of low quality and data-limited satellite
broadband connectivity options. With the
new service offering, customers will be
able to enjoy high-throughput connectivity
as well as be able to use unlimited data.
Hanif Kassam, CEO of INTERSAT, said
this agreement with Azercosmos is a
significant step toward extending state-
of-the-art and highly-affordable services

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