Fibre quality internet connectivity over satellite is soon going to be available to
majority of population on the earth, including Pakistan.
The service
– that is planned for a commercial launch in coming few months – will operate
through world’s first ever Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites that are capable
of offering fibre like internet speeds to the end users.
O3b networks
– dubbed for other three billion without internet – is on a mission to link
developing countries via high-speed Internet over satellite where there is no
other medium of connectivity.
Firm claims
to have financial and operational support from Google, SES, HSBC, Liberty
Global, Development Bank of South Africa, Sofina, Satya Capital, Northbridge
Venture Partners and Allen & Company.
O3b’s
satellites will fly in medium earth orbit 8,062Kms over the equator in
comparison to the traditional GEO (geostationary earth orbit) based satellites
at 36,000 Kms.
O3b said
that it aims at reaching customers in a band between 45 degrees north and 45
degrees south latitude, home to most of the world’s population.
coverage map
Pakistan Soon to Get High Speed Satellite Internet with O3b
Pakistan’s
leading IT and telecom enabler, Interactive E-solutions will commercially
launch high speed O3b services in near future in the country.
The
spacecraft host KA-Band antennas to broadcast services to customers out of
reach of terrestrial broadband networks, boosting data many folds throughput
and connection speeds in homes, businesses, schools and hospitals.
O3b claims
to have a system with low-latency, higher-speed alternative to conventional
geostationary satellites.
O3b’s stands
for “other 3 billion,” referencing the approximate number of people without
reliable, high-speed Internet connections in developing countries.
While
sharing his thoughts over the launch of another 4 satellites of O3b, Shahid
Mahmud, Chairman/CEO of Interactive Group said, “We are extremely excited and
welcome the successful launch of O3b satellites. Pakistani market offers immense
appetite for bandwidth and data in areas of application in health,
telemedicine, education, e-learning, e-governance, public safety and many
others. Very soon, we will usher in a new era of Internet usage by
proliferating the positive effects of connectivity amongst the people of
Pakistan.”
O3b CEO
Steve Collar while talking to the media at French Guiana stated, “We are
thrilled at the successful launch of our satellites. The four satellites
launched Thursday will enter service within few months.” He stated.
“We are
already looking at the third launch of another 4 satellites which will make
constellation of 12 satellites by end of this year, but we can grow to more
than 100,” Collar said. “The future is very bright, and we will only be limited
by the market. For the time being, we don’t see any stop in the demand for
broadband connectivity, so we’re going to keep launching satellites and keep
deploying services for as long as there is demand.” He stated in his concluding
remarks.
