O3b Networks the Fastest Growing Satellite Operator in History

High throughput, low latency satellite network achieves unprecedented growth across industries and geographies

St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands – 6 October, 2015 – O3b Networks today announced that over its first year of commercial operation, the company’s high throughput, low latency satellite network has become the fastest growing in satellite history. O3b has contracted more capacity in the inaugural year of operation than any other satellite operator with a foothold in Africa, South Central Asia, the Middle East, South East Asia, the Pacific, South America, North America and Europe.

O3b is now providing fiber-like connectivity to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to expand 3G and 4G/LTE services to rural populations, ISPs to provide true broadband on isolated island chains, cruise lines to bring guests and crew high-speed broadband and mobile connections, Oil and Gas companies to reduce costs and improve crew welfare and governments to add flexibility to services and gain significant strategic advantage.

O3b’s first year anniversary achievements include:

• 12 satellites in orbit
• Initial constellation capacity of 192 Gbps
• 40 customers in service
• 31 countries with live customers

Already, the capacity that O3b has sold is equivalent to nearly 10% of the contracted capacity of the three largest Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) operators combined.

O3b Networks operates a Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite constellation, which at 8000 km, is much closer to the earth than traditional geostationary (GEO) satellites. The lower altitude greatly reduces latency, decreasing response times and improving voice and video quality as well as enabling an array of cloud services. O3b satellites achieve extremely high throughput, making its satellite service an ideal solution when fiber is impractical or unreliable.

Supporting Quotes:

Steve Collar, CEO, O3b Networks

“Our first year of commercial service has been phenomenal. We couldn’t be happier to see the impact that O3b has had on our customers and their businesses. The breadth of industries and geographies that our customers span reflects the broad based demand for high performance connectivity and we are excited to help our customers take their network capabilities to another level.”

Philippe Israel, Managing Director, Raga Sat: 

"The experience was absolutely mind boggling… I couldn’t be more thrilled for our customers to finally have the type of technology that is comparable to what they have in the western world." 

Susan Bonner, VP Onboard Revenue, RCCL: 

"It is a game changer for us, it is also a game changer for the guests we're going to attract to come on board. It enables us to provide the same level of connectivity as they experience in their homes today." 

Michael A Iwanow, CEO, MEOSAT:

"With the key features that O3b offers, with the lowest latency and uptime of almost 100 percent, we can deliver the market what the market needs."

Source: O3b press release