Page 87 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

SATELLITE UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

LEO Satellite Broadband Market to Reach 5 Million Subscribers By 2026

The arrival of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) last year and so far has put more than enabling LEO broadband services to
system will benefit underserved users in 1,000 satellites in orbit. Plans call for it support low latency services such as
remote areas by supporting high-speed, to serve more than 600,000 homes and online gaming and live video streaming,"
low latency broadband service. Global businesses in the U.S. The company is said Khin Sandi Lynn, Industry Analyst at
tech market advisory firm ABI Research now working toward the expansion of ABI Research. "As broadband connectivity
forecasts that the satellite broadband its broadband service to some markets is becoming an essential service in today's
market will reach 3.5 million subscribers in Latin America. Other companies such homes, satellite broadband services will
in 2021, growing at a CAGR of 8% to reach as OneWeb and Telesat have launched remain an important part of the broadband
5.2 million users in 2026, and generate LEO satellites providing connectivity to market. There is inevitable competition
US$4.1 billion service revenue. In the past, the business segment. Amazon, which from terrestrial broadband networks
Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites plans to launch LEO constellations named due to the expansion of fixed broadband
have provided residential and business project Kupier, received FCC approval for networks and mobile networks. The
services to rural and remote customers. its project in mid-2020, although the first expansion of LTE and 5G networks will
ABI says that while GEO satellites offer satellite launch date is yet to be confirmed. challenge the satellite broadband industry
speeds faster than 100 Mbps, their "LEO satellites will play an important role by supplying fixed wireless access (FWA)
distance from the earth – 36,000 km – in satellite broadband services in the services to residential users. However, the
pushes latency to 600ms, which limits years to come. High Throughput Satellite cost and time associated with terrestrial
the applications for which they can be (HTS) LEO systems can support multi- network deployments can limit distribution
used. LEOs, which reduce latency due to Gbps speed per satellite. Orbiting around in remote areas. Satellite systems will
their lower orbits, may change the game. 800-1600 km from the Earth's surface, continue to provide broadband services
The biggest name is Starlink, which is LEO systems offer a major advantage of to underserved and unserved areas," Lynn
part of Elon Musk’s SpaceX. It launched low latency between 30-50 milliseconds, added.

NCC in Talks with SpaceX on Satellite-Broadband Services

The Nigerian Communications in the discussion, the Commission granted licensing requests and deployment phases
Commission (NCC) has engaged a SpaceX’s request for a face-to-face at the meeting. After the presentation by
delegation from SpaceX, an American discussion to gain better insights on the SpaceX team, the Executive Commissioner,
aerospace manufacturer founded by prospects of their proposal. The team was Technical Services, NCC, Ubale Maska,
Elon Musk, on modalities for bringing the led by SpaceX’s Starlink Market Access who represented the EVC, said NCC will
company’s satellite-based broadband Director for Africa, Ryan Goodnight, and work on necessary modalities to ensure
services to Nigeria. Speaking while supported by the company’s consultant, there is healthy competition in the industry
receiving the delegation in Abuja, the Levin Born. The NCC and SpaceX team in view of emerging technologies in the
Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, deliberated on plans, expectations, telecoms ecosystem.
Prof. Umar Danbatta stated that the
commission is interested in balancing
healthy competition with the entry of
disruptive technologies. This move,
according to him will ensure sustainable
telecoms industry growth and development
in Nigeria It was gathered that SpaceX is
in the process of launching a low-earth
orbiting (LOE) constellation of satellites
to provide low latency, high bandwidths
Internet to all corners of the globe and has
identified Nigeria as a critical market. It was
learnt that SpaceX has been in discussion
with NCC virtually over the past several
months to begin the process of pursuing
all necessary licenses to bring Starlink,
its satellite-based broadband services to
Nigeria. Having made substantial progress

87 APRIL-MAY 2021