SES, O3b Execs View Mega-constellations with Open but Skeptical Minds

摘要

Satellite fleet operator SES on Jan. 22 said it would jump into the market for offering global broadband communications from a low-orbiting constellation if the latest efforts announced by SpaceX, Google, Virgin Group and Qualcomm-with others to come - show signs of proving themselves. Luxembourg-based SES, which believes it surpassed rival Intelsat last year as the world's largest fixed-satellite services operator by revenue, said that as the only big satellite operator with assets in both geostationary and medium Earth orbit, it is willing to accept that these well-financed companies may be on to something. SES is 47 percent owner of O3b Networks, a company in which Google has about a 5 percent stake. O3b operates 12 satellites, with more to come, orbiting at 8,000 kilometers in altitude and focused on a global belt of customers located between 40-plus degrees north and south of the equator.