O3b & Kymeta Agree to Develop Flat Panel Antenna
Fiber-like Internet connectivity speeds with low cost, thin and flat panel satellite antennas set to enable a range of new markets and broadband coverage
St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands and Redmond, Wash. – Sept. 5, 2013 –
O3b Networks — which is launching its next-generation satellite constellation for satellite services with fiber-like speeds — and Kymeta Corporation — the company commercializing innovative software-enabled metamaterials-based electronic beamforming antennas for satellite communications — announced an agreement today to develop flat panel satellite antennas for the O3b network. The flat, thin, light and low cost antennas and terminals developed by Kymeta in combination with O3b Networks high speed, low latency and low cost Internet services are expected to open a wide range of new markets worldwide.
The two companies will jointly develop the unique satellite tracking antennas and terminals to be optimized for the fast and affordable satellite services that O3b will be offering. The agreement will result in a prototype by the end of 2014, at which point a range of antenna and terminal products with various form factors will be announced by the two companies.
“We are excited to expand our strategic relationship with O3b,” said Bob McCambridge, President and COO of Kymeta. “O3b’s network with fiber-like speeds is a natural fit for Kymeta antennas that electronically acquire and track non-geostationary satellites. The O3b network architecture is a perfect fit for Kymeta’s unique technology and capabilities.”
Steve Collar, CEO of O3b Networks said, “At O3b, we are striving to bring the benefits of affordable, low latency bandwidth to a growing number of people around the world and to delivering an ever expanding set of applications. Kymeta’s flat, light, low cost and low maintenance antennas promise to provide O3b customers an extremely powerful, high-performance solution at a very attractive price. Kymeta antennas will have utility across all our market segments and we are excited to be partnering together to develop this highly innovative and game changing technology.”
“We are excited to expand our strategic relationship with O3b,” said Bob McCambridge, President and COO of Kymeta. “O3b’s network with fiber-like speeds is a natural fit for Kymeta antennas that electronically acquire and track non-geostationary satellites. The O3b network architecture is a perfect fit for Kymeta’s unique technology and capabilities.”
About O3b Networks Limited
O3b Networks Limited is a global satellite service provider building a next-generation satellite network for telecommunications operators, Internet service providers, enterprise and government customers in emerging markets. The O3b system will combine the global reach of satellite with the speed of a fiber‐optic network providing billions of consumers and businesses in nearly 180 countries with low‐cost, high‐speed, low latency Internet and mobile connectivity. O3b Networks’ investors include SES, Google, Liberty Global, HSBC Principal Investments, Northbridge Venture Partners, Allen & Company, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Sofina, Satya Capital and Luxempart. O3b Networks is headquartered in St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands.
About Kymeta Corporation
Kymeta Corporation is commercializing a new, innovative metamaterials-based antenna for satellite communications. Kymeta has been named by MIT Technology Review as well as CNBC as one of 2013’s 50 most disruptive companies as part of their annual list of the world’s most innovative technology companies. The Company is based in Redmond, Washington and operates on a worldwide basis. For more information, please visit kymeta1.wpengine.com.
Brunswick PR
Marleen Geerlof, Chris Buscombe
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7404 5959
Email: O3b@brunswickgroup.com
Håkan Olsson
Senior Director of Marketing
Tel: +1 425-896-3711
Email: PR@kymetacorp.com