Canadian microsatellite bus manufacturer Microsat Systems Canada Inc (MSCI) has revealed ambitious plans to launch a satellite constellation entitled COMMStellation that will offer global satellite backhaul capacity.
The company, which was formerly the…
Canadian microsatellite bus manufacturer Microsat Systems Canada Inc (MSCI) has revealed ambitious plans to launch a satellite constellation entitled COMMStellation that will offer global satellite backhaul capacity.
The company, which was formerly the Space Division of Dynacon, intends to launch 78 microsatellites to a polar oriented low Earth orbit of 1,000km where they will provide both backhaul capacity and internet to remote regions.
David Cooper, president and CEO of MSCI, commented: “The influx of millions of data-hungry mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, is causing unprecedented strain on mobile networks, which have already reached, or are nearing, capacity. COMMStellation will provide essential backhaul capacity to mobile operators across the globe.” This view was echoed by Michael Neuman, the founder of Elevest Corporation and former CEO of Bell ExpressVu Satellite TV, who is advising MSCI on the COMMStellation project.
Neuman stated: “While demand for backhaul bandwidth grows exponentially, there is downward pressure on consumer wireless pricing. This situation, together with the need to reach economically challenged population centers, calls for an innovative, low-cost satellite solution.” MSCI plans to launch the satellites in batches of 14, each including one back-up satellite, on six rockets with the first launch due in 2014. The company expects to have the entire constellation operating at full capability by 2015, connected to terrestrial telecommunications networks through 20 ground stations located across the globe.
The COMMStellation microsatellites are to be based on MSCI’s Multi Mission Microsatellite Bus (MMMB) platform which has been used previously for the Canadian space telescope MOST and surveillance satellite NEOSSat (Near-Earth Object Surveillance Satellite).
However, while MSCI has completed the preliminary design of the spacecraft and the constellation, the company is still holding talks with a number of potential development partners over securing the launches, ground segment infrastructure and the payload and antenna on the satellites.
MSCI has not disclosed who is financing the constellation but did state that it is currently in negotiations with a number of potential investors. Indeed, it is the Canadian company’s intention to act as the project administrator with the development partners taking equity stakes in the company.
Cooper said: “We are looking for service providers who want to improve service to their customers, technology partners who can bring complementary technologies to the COMMStellation initiative.” The premise of the business is similar to that of nascent operator O3b Networks but MSCI is bullish over its prospects arguing that because of its proximity to the Earth, in comparison to O3b’s planned MEO constellation, it will be able to provide over five times the data bandwidth density for the same satellite output. The company also claims that the constellation will be able to provide 1/8 the data latency, ten times the total constellation capacity, and potentially provide bandwidth to any of the world’s global population.
However, given its relatively early stage of development, COMMStellation will require the same orbital and spectrum coordination agreements that O3b needed to secure.
