The failed OneWeb/Intelsat merger might be a win for other geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite network operators, giving them a chance to pursue their own medium earth orbit (MEO) or low earth orbit (LEO) ambitions, Northern Sky Research analyst Gagan Agrawal blogged Wednesday. If the deal hadn't fallen apart (see 1706010066), it potentially could have pushed other GSO operators with non-GSO ambitions "out of the game," it said. The post also said other major GSO operators are varied in their approaches to non-GSO, with Intelsat, Eutelsat and JSAT focusing on strategic partnerships that give them "a very limited play in this arena," Telesat "going aggressive" with LEO plans and SES -- through its investment in and subsequent acquisition of O3b -- "has materialized MEO-GEO synergies into one of the more promising growth areas in the near term."

SpaceX, OneWeb and Telesat Canada -- already planning non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite constellations in the Ka- and/or Ku-band (see 1611160010) -- also want FCC approval to put more than 8,000 V-band satellites in orbit. And Boeing plans to operate a 147-satellite V-band constellation atop the 2,900-satellite NGSO V-band constellation already awaiting FCC review (see 1606230050). Wednesday was the deadline for processing round applications triggered by Boeing’s NGSO application (see 1611010060). Aside from the new constellations, O3b and Theia Holdings asked in amendments to be allowed to add V-band capabilities to their pending NGSO applications.

SpaceX, OneWeb and Telesat Canada -- already planning non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite constellations in the Ka- and/or Ku-band (see 1611160010) -- also want FCC approval to put more than 8,000 V-band satellites in orbit. And Boeing plans to operate a 147-satellite V-band constellation atop the 2,900-satellite NGSO V-band constellation already awaiting FCC review (see 1606230050). Wednesday was the deadline for processing round applications triggered by Boeing’s NGSO application (see 1611010060). Aside from the new constellations, O3b and Theia Holdings asked in amendments to be allowed to add V-band capabilities to their pending NGSO applications.

Eleven companies are proposing the launch of more than 5,000 non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) space stations in the Ku- and Ka-bands in coming years that could in some way conflict with OneWeb plans for its own 720-satellite low earth orbit (LEO) constellation (see 1604290016). Tuesday was the deadline for processing round applications for NGSO satellites that would operate in the same frequency bands as OneWeb (see 1607180006). OneWeb Vice President-Regulatory Kalpak Gude told us the company sees the plethora of proposals as validation of its own plans. "I think the next step is for us all to review the plans that have been filed and see what are the coordination challenges," he emailed Wednesday. "The reality is that it is unlikely that all the systems get built but that some will. Coordination will no doubt be a challenge but engineers can craft solutions only when they see the real details of proposed systems." According to the FCC, staff will review the applications to ensure they are complete and then put them out on public notice.

Eleven companies are proposing the launch of more than 5,000 non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) space stations in the Ku- and Ka-bands in coming years that could in some way conflict with OneWeb plans for its own 720-satellite low earth orbit (LEO) constellation (see 1604290016). Tuesday was the deadline for processing round applications for NGSO satellites that would operate in the same frequency bands as OneWeb (see 1607180006). OneWeb Vice President-Regulatory Kalpak Gude told us the company sees the plethora of proposals as validation of its own plans. "I think the next step is for us all to review the plans that have been filed and see what are the coordination challenges," he emailed Wednesday. "The reality is that it is unlikely that all the systems get built but that some will. Coordination will no doubt be a challenge but engineers can craft solutions only when they see the real details of proposed systems." According to the FCC, staff will review the applications to ensure they are complete and then put them out on public notice.

WorldVu Satellites, operating as OneWeb, is building a low earth-orbit satellite system to extend high-speed Internet and telephony to underserved rural and remote areas, a OneWeb spokesman said in an interview last week. The system is similar to O3b Networks’ constellation, which comprises 12 satellites in medium earth orbit. And OneWeb may face challenges, experts said. They said that the new OneWeb network, backed by some heavy hitters in the telecom industry, can succeed technically. They questioned the business prospects.

WorldVu Satellites, operating as OneWeb, is building a low earth-orbit satellite system to extend high-speed Internet and telephony to underserved rural and remote areas, a OneWeb spokesman said in an interview last week. The system is similar to O3b Networks’ constellation, which comprises 12 satellites in medium earth orbit. And OneWeb may face challenges, experts said. They said that the new OneWeb network, backed by some heavy hitters in the telecom industry, can succeed technically. They questioned the business prospects.

O3b Networks and ITT Exelis became members of the Satellite Industry Association. O3b, a global satellite services provider, plans to launch a constellation of medium earth orbit Ka-band satellites, SIA said in a press release. ITT Exelis, a satellite technology provider, offers next-generation solutions “for the command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance market,” it said.

SES partnered with O3B Networks to provide Internet capacity for Digicel’s cellular network services. Digicel, a mobile services provider, contracted capacity on SES’s NSS-9 satellite and O3B’s Medium Earth Orbit fleet “to provide high quality Internet bandwidth for their cellular network in Papua New Guinea,” SES said in a press release (http://xrl.us/bobc9k). The NSS-9 satellite will offer C-band capacity at the 183 degrees east orbital position, SES said.

Satellite Internet-backbond builder O3b raised another $137 million that will fund four more satellites to add capacity and redundancy over the emerging markets, the company said. The additional satellites are to launch in 2014 and will nearly double the capacity from the eight medium earth orbit satellites scheduled for launch in 2013, said O3b. The capacity growth is due to the additional beams deployed and enhanced link efficiency created by a larger constellation of satellites, the company said. The funds came from existing investors and the addition of $85 million to O3b’s Coface-backed debt facility, said O3b. The additional satellites are necessary to provide service in the developing world, with global IP traffic expected to grow four fold in the next five years, said O3b CEO Steve Collar. The company has sold about a third of its capacity globally and has a contracted backlog over $600 million, the company said. O3b will use the same manufacturer and the new four satellites will be identical to the other eight, said a company spokeswoman.