Luxembourg taps into SES's O3b mPOWER for defense and disaster recovery

Luxembourg taps into SES's O3b mPOWER for defense and disaster recovery
by Staff Writers
Luxembourg (SPX) Feb 24, 2023

Luxembourg has selected SES's O3b mPOWER system to serve as the resilient satcom infrastructure for defense, security, and disaster recovery in the country and beyond. The MEO Global Services program, valued at 195 million euro over 10 years, will enable the acquisition and operation of O3b mPOWER services, pending approval by the Luxembourg parliament. The program will be executed in collaboration with the United States and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, which seeks to commercially contract satellite communications capabilities.

The O3b mPOWER system that SES is developing brings unprecedented levels of flexibility and unique security features that enable governments to operate sovereign gateways and networks globally. It can also be easily integrated into existing governments' satcom capabilities, permitting multi-orbit resiliency to NATO and allies' systems and elevating them to the next level of performance and security.

At a recent press conference, Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Francois Bausch, expressed his pride in his country's use of innovative satellite technology developed by SES, Luxembourg's leading space player.

Bausch emphasized that the O3b mPOWER system would not only reinforce Euro-Atlantic joint deterrence and defense but would also increase the resilience, flexibility, and connectivity of Luxembourg's satcom capabilities. He also noted that the technology would create synergies through cooperation with other nations that share Luxembourg's values.

According to SES CEO Steve Collar, the company is eager to support Luxembourg's space defense strategy and facilitate greater cooperation between the country and its partners by leveraging SES's unique space-based capabilities. He highlighted that the O3b mPOWER system has been specifically designed with the needs of governments in mind, offering unprecedented levels of guaranteed performance to support defense, security, and sovereign networks, as well as disaster recovery and response. This technology is expected to contribute to a safer and more secure Europe and beyond.

O3b mPOWER is a satellite-based communication system being developed by SES, a global satellite operator. The system is designed to provide high-performance, low-latency connectivity to government, commercial, and other customers around the world.

The system will use Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites, which orbit the Earth at an altitude of around 8,000 kilometers. This is higher than the altitude of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, but lower than the altitude of Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites. The use of MEO satellites is intended to provide a balance between coverage and latency, allowing for high-speed, low-latency communication over a wide area.

O3b mPOWER is designed to be highly flexible, allowing customers to choose the level of performance and capacity they require. The system is also designed to be highly secure, with built-in encryption and other security features to protect customer data.

The system began commercial operations in 2022, with initial services being provided to customers in the government, energy, and maritime sectors. SES has stated that the system has the potential to revolutionize the satellite communications industry, and that it will be a key part of the company's growth strategy in the coming years.