Page 39 - SAMENA Trends - Jan-Mar 2024

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Eutelsat and Intelsat Sign $500m LEO Partnership

France-based Eutelsat Group and America’s Intelsat have partnered our diverse portfolio of customers and business segments,” Dave
to invest $500 million to advance the OneWeb Low Earth Orbit Wajsgras, CEO of Intelsat in a press release. Eva Berneke, CEO of
(LEO) Constellation. The collaboration, which was announced this Eutelsat Group, highlighted the importance of the collaboration in
week, will in begin mid-2024 with a $250 million commitment, has a press release, saying, “This expanded collaboration with Intelsat
an option of a further $250 million, the company said. Starting mid- underscores a resounding vote of confidence in the prowess of the
2024, Intelsat will integrate OneWeb’s LEO Network with its existing OneWeb satellite constellation, both today and in the foreseeable
GEO and terrestrial networks. This move is expected to deliver future.” The Eutelsat Group was formed through the merger of
unmatched services to customers in networks, government, and Eutelsat and OneWeb in 2023, becoming the first fully integrated
mobility industries. Intelsat will cooperate with Eutelsat to develop GEO-LEO satellite operator with a fleet of 35 GEO satellites and a
its Next Generation OneWeb constellation, providing direct design LEO constellation of more than 600 satellites to cater to mobile
and functionality input to help ensure that the new constellation will connectivity needs across Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific.
meet increasing customer needs. “Today’s announcement elevates As the partnership evolves, it promises to redefine satellite
that partnership to unprecedented heights, bolstering our capacity communication possibilities, offering unprecedented connectivity
to offer cutting-edge multi-orbit services and solutions across solutions worldwide.

Eutelsat OneWeb and Telstra Launch Largest Deployment of LEO Backhaul

in Australia

Eutelsat Group, and Telstra announce the launch of the largest “Eutelsat OneWeb’s LEO solution will help us improve the customer
rollout of Eutelsat OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) backhaul in experience in regional and remote areas with lower latency, higher
Australia. The launch follows the signing of a strategic multi- speeds, and a more consistent experience. There’s also potential
year agreement last year that will enable LEO capacity delivered for OneWeb, as a backup backhaul solution, to improve reliability in
to Telstra’s most remote mobile customers across Australia to areas where terrestrial backhaul is susceptible to natural disasters,
enhance their experience when using real-time applications such and where communities find themselves in isolation to have a LEO
as voice and video calling. It follows a successful voice call on- backhaul that guarantees that level of quality service.” Australia is
air using Eutelsat OneWeb’s LEO solution, the first time a satellite one of several markets now fully operational, as Eutelsat OneWeb
backhaul call has been conducted on a commercial mobile completes the roll-out of its ground segment to enable true global
network with a guaranteed quality level of services in Australia. coverage.
More than 300 remote mobile base station sites currently using
satellite backhaul will be connected to Eutelsat OneWeb’s LEO
solution over the next 18 months. The capability will allow Telstra
to expand mobile coverage as it supports new site deployments.
Cyril Dujardin, Co-General Manager of Eutelsat Group’s Connectivity
Business Unit said: “We are delighted to support Telstra in
delivering consistent, leading-edge connectivity to its customers in
Australia, regardless of location. We are honored to count Telstra
among our most trusted partners, with whom we will continue to
collaborate to test and deploy current and future technology.” Iskra
Nikolova, Telstra Executive for Network and Technology added:

Eutelsat Group Concludes Sale of OneWeb’s Stake in Airbus OneWeb
Satellites LLC (AOS)

Eutelsat Group has completed the sale of OneWeb’s 50% share in have partnered with Airbus in this joint venture which has assured
the Airbus OneWeb Satellites joint venture. The stake in the Florida- the successful build of OneWeb’s First Generation constellation,
based business, which built the satellites for the OneWeb First and we are confident the business will continue to thrive by
Generation constellation, is being acquired by co-owner, Airbus addressing the growing demand for small sats, with a best-in-
U.S. Space & Defense, Inc. The agreement reflects Eutelsat Group’s class, competitive offer. Looking ahead, Eutelsat Group will benefit
ongoing management of its assets with a view to optimizing from being able to call on a more diversified range of suppliers for
and monetizing its portfolio as part of its debt reduction efforts. its future in-orbit needs, including Airbus which remains one of our
Massimiliano Ladovaz of Eutelsat Group said: “We are proud to most trusted partners.”

39 JANUARY-MARCH 2024