SES, a leading global provider of content connectivity solutions, has recently completed a series of proof-of-concept tests aimed at evaluating the capabilities of the company’s Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite constellation. The collaborative initiative, undertaken by the Philippines’ Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), is part of the government agency’s mission to plan, develop, and promote the country’s information and communication technology (ICT) development agenda.

The demonstration harnessed the power of SES’ O3b and O3b mPOWER systems, specifically designed MEO satellite constellations to extend connectivity to the “other three billion” — individuals lacking consistent and reliable access to communication systems. During the trial, SES showcased impressive breakthrough speeds of 500Mbps download and 80Mbps upload, marking a sixfold increase compared to the Philippines’ median fixed broadband download speed of 83.09 Mbps, as reported by Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index in September 2023. These speeds are comparable to the median upload speed of 79.42 Mbps in the country.

Positioned at a distance of 8,000km from the Earth’s surface, SES’s MEO constellations offer high-throughput, low-latency services, making MEO the preferred orbit for superior Internet access, cloud-based applications, and 5G capabilities. The satellite Internet company has recently expanded its fleet with the launch of two additional O3b mPOWER satellites, contributing to the second-generation MEO constellation scheduled to commence services in the second quarter of 2024.

The relatively close proximity to Earth allows MEO constellations to offer high data transfer rates, ensuring faster download and upload speeds suitable for bandwidth-intensive applications such as video streaming, cloud-based services, and 5G connectivity. With global coverage capabilities, MEO constellations reach even remote and underserved areas, and their mobility is well-suited for continuous coverage in applications like maritime and aviation communication. The moderate distance between MEO satellites and Earth results in reduced signal propagation delays, crucial for applications requiring timely data transmission. Designed with scalability in mind, MEO constellations allow for the deployment of additional satellites to meet growing demand, and their constellation architecture provides redundancy, ensuring uninterrupted service even if one satellite encounters issues.

The impressive speeds demonstrated during the proof-of-concept tests hold the potential to empower communities and villages in remote areas, connecting them to crucial services such as buyers, suppliers, banking, and other institutions that play a pivotal role in building and sustaining rural livelihoods. The enhanced connectivity facilitated by SES’ MEO constellations also opens avenues for these communities to access new technologies and services, contributing to the overall development of the countryside.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robert “Bob” Reyes is a technologist, an ICT Consultant and Tech Speaker, a certified Google IT Support Specialist, and an Open Source advocate representing the global non-profit Mozilla (makers of Firefox) in the Philippines. Bob is a Technology Columnist for the Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation and an aviation subject matter expert contributor for Spot.PH.

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