SES Expands O3b mPOWER Technology Ecosystem with Modem Platform Partnerships

CIOReviewIndia Team | Wednesday, 04 November 2020, 08:41 IST

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Today, SES announced Gilat and ST Engineering iDirect as the latest technology partners for developing the core infrastructure modem platforms for O3b mPOWER, SES’s ground-breaking non-geostationary-satellite orbit (NGSO) communications system.

Gilat and ST Engineering iDirect were selected based on their next-gen modem technologies. It featured open architectures with a path for full virtualization, where modems will interface with SES’s differentiated Adaptive Resource Control (ARC) capability and leverage SES’s use of the Open Networking Automation Platform (ONAP) standard. This combination and other technologies will give SES the prowess to dynamically control and optimize the entire O3b mPOWER system across space and ground infrastructure, and enable the efficient delivery of low-latency and high throughput satellite-based data services which can be customized for fitting specific connective requirements on land, sea or air.

O3b mPOWER is SES’s next-gen medium Earth Orbit (MEO) communication system. It is presently under construction and on track for launch in the next year, with high throughput satellites, and automated and intelligence-powered ground infrastructure, delivering low-latency managed services, from hundreds of Mbps to multiple Gbps.

Ron Levin Vice President Mobility and Global Accounts, Gilat, said, "We are honoured to have been selected by SES, our long-time strategic partner, to provide our next-generation baseband platform for O3b mPOWER. Gilat's innovative ground segment significantly reduces cost-per-bit, delivers a step-change in modem performance, and further integrates with and optimises SES ground and space service delivery. Throughout the last year, we have been working closely with SES to develop the platform for O3b mPOWER with the joint goal of bringing to market unparalleled customer experience in all target verticals."

"We are at the beginning of a new future for our industry. To be selected for O3b mPOWER is a tremendous validation of ST Engineering iDirect's technology vision and proves that ground infrastructure will play a pivotal role in SES's ambitious goal to transform satellite service delivery. O3b mPOWER is at the forefront of a significant movement to drive a standards-based, virtualised network approach where ground is in lockstep with space. Through our partnership, we will greatly expand the possibilities for global connectivity," said Frederik Simoens, CTO, ST Engineering iDirect.

"The basis of our O3b mPOWER communications system is defined and advanced by a diverse and robust partner ecosystem. As an industry, we are able to embrace the vision of open networking and seamless satellite services because of like-minded partners such as Gilat and ST Engineering iDirect who understand the step-change in system flexibility and capacity that O3b mPOWER will deliver. We have first-hand experience over many years of working with both Gilat and ST Engineering iDirect and have always been impressed with their work as well as what their technologies can provide. Hence, we have full confidence in selecting these two outstanding companies as trusted partners for O3b mPOWER and to deliver a key part of our infrastructure supporting an unparalleled customer experience,” said Stewart Sanders, SES's Executive Vice President of Technology and O3b mPOWER programme manager.

For making satellites a seamless part of the global network solutions, SES has been focusing on expansion of O3b mPOWER partner ecosystem. Adding to this, iDirect has also announced O3b mPOWER partnerships with SpaceX for launches ALCAN, Isotropic Systems, and Viasat for customer edge terminals, Amdocs for NFV technology, Kythera Space Solutions for the ARC software, Microsoft for gateways, and IBM and Microsoft for cloud connectivity.

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