Google is understood to be backing a new satellite broadband venture from Greg Wyler, the founder of O3b Networks. Registered as WorldVu Satellite Limited in the Channel Islands, the same location as O3b’s corporate headquarters, the new project…
Google is understood to be backing a new satellite broadband venture from Greg Wyler, the founder of O3b Networks.
Registered as WorldVu Satellite Limited in the Channel Islands, the same location as O3b’s corporate headquarters, the new project intends to launch a constellation of up to 360 small satellites into low Earth orbit to provide broadband services to underserved regions.
According to ITU filings seen by SatelliteFinance, WorldVu is planning to launch a near-polar Ku-band constellation in 18 planes of 20 satellites, half of which would be at an altitude of 950km and half at 800km.
The filings, which were made between late 2012 and December 2013 under the name L5, seek to use the use the spectrum and regulatory scheme originally secured by Skybridge LP, a start-up backed by Alcatel-Lucent that planned to create a global satellite broadband service in the 1990s, but ultimately failed to secure the necessary funding.
The regulatory deadline for launching the satellites and utilising the allocated spectrum is November 2019 (for the 2012 applications) and June 2020 (for the 2013 applications).
According to various reports, the satellite system is budgeted to cost in the region of US$3bn, based on a plan to construct 360 small satellites weighing 100kg each.
However, Raymond James analyst Chris Quilty points out that at that weight the satellites would have very little propulsion capability, significantly reducing their operational life. Possibly from 10-15 years to 5-7 years.
He adds that it would also be unlikely that such a weight would allow for inter-satellite crosslinks, which are seen as vital given the constellation’s near polar orbit and its intention to provide full global coverage.
Both Quilty and TMF Associates principal Tim Farrar suggest that a per satellite weight of 200-300kg would be more realistic. For comparison, Orbcomm’s LEO satellites weigh 170kg each, while O3b’s spacecraft weigh around 700kg.
If this was the case then the price of the project would rise to US$5bn for the full constellation.
Farrar, though, expects that the system would likely be launched in two phases with an initial constellation of 180 satellites operated at the 950km altitude. The remaining satellites would then be launched at a later date to increase capacity.
Based on the 3GHz of spectrum that was made available to Skybridge, and the expected size of the full constellation, Farrar estimates the system could have a capacity of 1-2 Tbps.
To achieve this WorldVu has a number of technical issues it must address. The company will have to find a solution to the Ku-band priority rights of GEO satellites over the equator. In order to avoid interference, the WorldVu satellites would have to stop transmitting within around 10 degrees of the equator.
A LEO system also means that dual tracking antennas would be required, which are prohibitively expensive for the market . A number of industry exports have therefore pointed to the role that meta-materials specialist Kymeta could play.
Kymeta is developing an electronically-steered flat panel antenna that could overcome this hurdle.
Google has so far refused to comment on its role in the project and has instead reiterated its commitment to expanding global broadband coverage.
A Google spokesperson said: “Internet connectivity significantly improves people’s lives. Yet two thirds of the world have no access at all. It’s why we’re so focused on new technologies—from Project Loon to Titan Aerospace—that have the potential to bring hundreds of millions more people online in the coming years.”
However, the internet giant has recently employed Brian Holz, the former chief technical officer of O3b, as well as Dave Bettinger, the former CTO of iDirect, the satellite-based IP communications technology specialist.
