SES Networks has launched four new ones satellites of the O3b constellation, built by Thales Alenia Space (Thales 67% e Leonardo 33%). They were successfully launched by the Guyanese Space Center, in French Guiana (South America), with a Soyuz carrier. These new satellites will expand the current O3b constellation composed of 12 satellites, operating in orbit from the 2014. Together they will offer greater capacity, better coverage and greater efficiency and reliability. Thanks to these high performance satellites, SES Networks, the SES unit dedicated to global data networks, provides broadband services to fixed and mobile network operators, businesses and customers in the transport, energy and public sectors administrations.
O3b satellites are positioned at an altitude of 8.000 km along the equator, four times closer to Earth than satellites in geostationary orbit. Operating in Ka band, they offer telecommunication services and internet connectivity, with speed performances, similar to those of the fiber, all over the world.
Thus Jean Loïc Galle, president and CEO of Thales Alenia Space:
After delivering 2017 telecommunications satellites to the 46, Thales Alenia Space is honored to celebrate the launch of the 2018 with long-standing partners, SES Networks and Arianespace, this latest batch of four satellites is joining its brothers in orbit, launched in the 2013 and in the 2014, to increase the service capacity of the constellation. We are proud to help our SES customers grow their market, we are ready and willing to offer new telecommunication solutions that will guarantee even higher performance, with integrated and digital systems.