Nascent satellite broadband operator O3b Networks is believed to have made a total loss claim of around US$320m for its first four Block 1A satellites.
In addition, sources claim the company has taken two of those satellites out of service. The other…
Nascent satellite broadband operator O3b Networks is believed to have made a total loss claim of around US$320m for its first four Block 1A satellites.
In addition, sources claim the company has taken two of those satellites out of service. The other two satellites would likely follow suit next year once the third batch of satellites is operational.
O3b declined to comment on the rumours.
SatelliteFinance understands that the company had two insurance policies for its Block 1A spacecraft, one covering the individual satellites and one covering the constellation.
The latter policy allegedly stipulates that a minimum of 50 beams are operational for at least seven years. This equates to six satellites operating 10 beams each, minus 10 beams overall to provide some leeway in the policy.
The Block 1A satellites were launched by Arianespace in June 2013. Soon after their placement in medium earth orbit it became clear that they were suffering an onboard anomaly, although the extent of the problem was unclear.
The issue forced O3b and the satellites’ manufacturer Thales Alenia Space to delay the launch of the next batch of satellites to ensure the malfunction did not exist on those spacecraft.
The satellites were successfully launched on 11 July 2014 and the company is in the process of completing its in-orbit testing.
The next batch of four satellites is slated to be launched in early 2015.
