O3b mPOWER is a communications satellite system owned and operated by the Luxembourgish company SES. The system uses high-throughput and low-latency satellites in a medium Earth orbit (MEO), along with ground infrastructure and intelligent software, to provide multiple terabits of global broadband connectivity for applications including cellular backhaul and international IP trunking, cruise line connectivity, disaster recovery, and military communications. The first O3b mPOWER satellites were launched in December 2022 and the system became operational in April 2024 with 6 satellites. Two further satellites were launched in December 2024, and the system's capacity will be increased by a further 5 satellites launched by 2026.SES building a 10-terabit O3b mPower constellation, SpaceNews, 11 September 2017, Accessed 25 April 2024SES orders four more O3b mPower satellites from Boeing, SpaceNews, 7 August 2020, Accessed 25 April 2024SES’ O3b mPOWER MEO System is Now Operational, Service Rollout to Follow Via Satellite. 24 April 2024. Accessed 25 April 2024
The O3b mPOWER satellites use fully shapable and steerable spot beams that can be shifted and scaled in real time to suit individual users. The satellites join SES' existing constellation of 20 first-generation O3b satellites in MEO and they can be used in conjunction with them, with the SES's fleet of geostationary satellites, and with SpaceX's Starlink low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, providing full multi-orbit capability.O3b mPower 1, ..., 11 (O3b 21, ..., 31) Gunter's Space Page, Accessed 25 April 2024.SES: building the multi-orbit network of the future Orange. Accessed 25 April 2024SES and Starlink have established an unusual partnership but it could be the first of many of its kind AnalysysMason. 30 November 2023. Accessed 29 September 2024
Satellites The O3b mPOWER satellites are based on Boeing's multi-orbit BSS-702X satellite bus with an all-electric propulsion system and a payload that can be reprogrammed from the ground to reallocate resources "on the fly".702X: The more cost-effective software defined satellite , Boeing, Accessed 27 August 2020
The electronically steered phased array antennas can provide up to 5000 spot beams per satellite each shaped and pointed as required to specifically distribute power and bandwidth to individual user's terminals and, using the full Ka-band spectrum, enable uncontended speeds from 50 Mbit/s up to 10 Gbit/s.
With frequency reuse, each O3b mPOWER satellite can deliver hundreds of gigabits in capacity, with multi-terabit capabilities across the full constellation. SES' Adaptive Resource Control (ARC) software and digital payload processing systems synchronise space and ground system resources to electronically control routing, power levels, throughput, and frequency allocation dynamically, in real time.Space Systems, SES, Accessed 29 March 2021SES to Extend O3b mPower Capabilities With Software Innovation, Broadband World News, 5 September 2019, Accessed 18 September 2020
When the first four satellites were in orbit, and the fifth and sixth about to be launched, it was discovered that they were afflicted with electrical issues that reduce their operational life and broadband capacity. Satellites 5 and 6 were nevertheless launched in November 2023, to maintain the initial service start date. To achieve the performance originally expected from the whole system, modifications were made to satellites 7–11, under construction by Boeing, and two additional craft added to the constellation.SES says O3b mPower electrical issues are worse than thought SpaceNews 31 October 2023. Accessed 27 November 2023
Coverage From MEO, the O3b mPOWER satellite constellation can deliver high-bandwidth connectivity between latitudes 50° N and 50° S (covering 96% of the global population) to mobile and/or remote terminals of 0.3 m to 5.5 m, and is finding application in the following markets:O3b mPOWER Press Factsheet, SES, August 2020, Accessed 26 August 2020 Mobility: cruise, commercial shipping, aero Telecom: telco, mobile network operators, cloud providers Government: military, government agencies, non-governmental organisations Enterprise: oil and gas, mining
Proposed additional satellites operating in a second medium earth orbit at an inclination of 70° would give near-complete global coverage.
History
Contracts In 2020, Orange, a user of the first generation O3b system in Africa and the Middle East, adopted the O3b mPOWER system, to extend its consumer and business broadband services in Africa, providing connectivity to remote locations, starting in the Central African Republic."African Teleco Orange Adopts SES's O3b mPOWER", Satellite Today, 27 February 2020, Accessed 28 August 2020
In September 2020, SES and Microsoft announced that SES was the medium Earth orbit connectivity partner for the Microsoft Azure Orbital ground station service that enables network operators to control their satellite operations and capacity from within the Azure cloud computing service. Under their agreement, SES and Microsoft will jointly invest in Azure Orbital ground stations for the MEO and Earth Observation segments, initially in the United States, which will be installed and managed by SES. Also, satellite telemetry, tracking and control systems and data ground stations for the O3b mPOWER satellites will be located with Microsoft's Azure edge sites to provide O3b mPOWER customers with "one-hop" access to Azure cloud services.Introducing Azure Orbital: Process satellite data at cloud-scale, Microsoft, 22 September 2020, Accessed 28 October 2020
In December 2020, SES agreed with Australian telco, Pivotel Group Pty to build a new ground station at Pivotel's teleport in Dubbo, New South Wales to use the O3b mPOWER system to provide high-speed, low-latency connectivity across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.Dubbo Gateway to boost regional APAC connectivity, Capacity Media, 16 December 2020, Accessed 31 January 2021
In August 2021, Microsoft became the first cloud computing provider customer for the O3b satellite system, with Microsoft buying managed satellite connectivity services from SES for the Microsoft Azure cloud service. Microsoft is initially using the existing first generation O3b satellites, before upgrading to the faster broadband speeds from O3b mPOWER satellites when they come into operation in 2022.O3b mPOWER get first cloud customer, on track for launch even as COVID-19 issues loom SpaceNews. 17 August 2021. Accessed 1 September 2021
In February 2022, SES formed a joint venture with India's biggest telephone company, Jio Platforms (JPL). The newly formed Jio Space Technology Limited will deliver broadband services in India of up to 100 Gbit/s capacity, using both the O3b mPOWER constellation and SES's SES-12 high-throughput geostationary satellite, to extend JPL's terrestrial network, enhancing access to digital services in unconnected areas within India and the region. JPL and SES will own 51% and 49% equity stake respectively in the new company.Jio and SES forge joint venture for satellite-based broadband services across India Computer Weekly. 14 February 2022. Accessed 30 April 2022
In March 2022, SES announced the acquisition of DRS Global Enterprise Solutions (GES), a US-based subsidiary of defence contractor, Leonardo DRS which provides managed satcom services to the US Defence Department and other government agencies. When the transaction is concluded (expected towards the end of 2022 after regulatory approvals) the business will be combined with SES subsidiary, SES Government Solutions (now SES Space & Defense), greatly expanding market access for the O3b mPOWER system at the time it is planned to begin operations.SES to acquire Leonardo DRS satcom business for $450 million SpaceNews. 22 March 2022. Accessed 28 March 2022
In May 2022, SES subsidiary SES Government Solutions (now SES Space & Defense), in partnership with Earth imaging company Planet Labs PBC, was awarded a US$28.96 million contract from NASA’s Communications Services Project for real-time, always-on low-latency connectivity services to NASA spacecraft, using SES's geostationary orbit satellites and medium Earth orbit satellites, including the O3b mPOWER constellation.NASA, Industry to Collaborate on Space Communications by 2025 NASA. 20 April 2022. Accessed 29 May 2022SES wins NASA contract Advanced Television. 10 May 2022. Accessed 29 May 2022
In June 2022, SES announced that it will provide global connectivity services to MSC Cruises using the O3b mPOWER system. The service will start on the Explora I, the first ship of MSC's forthcoming luxury cruise line Explora Journeys, expected to enter service in Spring 2023.SES Signs Cruise Connectivity Deal With Explora Journeys Via Satellite. 29 July 2022. Accessed 1 August 2022
In October 2022, SES announced a capacity deal with telco, Claro Brasil (through its Embratel division) to use the O3b mPOWER network to extend its mobile backhaul service serving more than 260,000 inhabitants of the eight cities in the isolated Amazon region. SES already serves other communities in the region with backhaul capacity delivered via its geostationary satellite. The O3b mPOWER network will provide 4 Gbit/s and will be able to support both 4G and 5G networks.Claro Brasil to Extend 4G and 5G-Ready Mobile Services With SES O3b mPOWER Via Satellite. 27 October 2022. Accessed 30 October 2022
In June 2023, the Luxembourg Parliament approved funding of €195m over 10 years for the Medium Earth Orbit Global Services programme to provide capacity on the O3b mPOWER network for defence, security, and disaster recovery, to Luxembourg, its partners and NATO.Boeing preparing to ship milestone O3b mPower satellites for launch Space News. 4 May 2023. Accessed 29 June 2023Luxembourg approves program to give NATO O3b mPower access Space News. 15 June 2023. Accessed 29 June 2023Launches SES. Accessed 29 June 2023
In November 2023, the US Department of Defense awarded SES a blanket purchase agreement worth up to US$270 million over five years for global HTS managed services on the O3b system.DoD Signs a Blanket Purchase Agreement for SES’s O3b System Via Satellite. 8 November 2023. Accessed 1 December 2023
In May 2024, SES announced the Open Orbits Inflight Connectivity Network which combines SES's Ka-band GEO satellite network and the O3b mPOWER network with independent satellite networks of regional operators, including NEO Space Group, AeroSat Link, and Hughes Communications India, to enable inflight video and data connectivity to seamlessly move between operators as an aircraft traverses the globe.SES Launches SES Open Orbits Inflight Connectivity Network Digital TV Europe. 29 May 2024. Accessed 30 May 2024 In October 2024, national airlines, Thai Airways and Turkish Airlines selected SES Open Orbits for aircraft across their fleets.Neo Space Group details Thai Airways IFC deal; talks growth plans Runway Girl Network. 29 October 2024. Accessed 30 October 2024
In September 2024, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency awarded its first contract for MEO satellite services to SES, to provide NATO members with capacity on the O3b mPOWER network for secure naval, air, and ground communications missions around the globe.NATO Awards SES Contract for MEO Services for US, Luxembourg Via Satellite. 11 September 2024. Accessed 30 October 2024 In February 2025, the O3b mPOWER constellation started providing connectivity services to the US and Luxembourg governments under the MEO Global Services contract.
In July 2026, SES reached an agreement with Starlab Space to provide communication services to its Starlab space station using the O3b mPOWER constellation.
Development