Global satellite launch: SES boosts worldwide network connectivity with the deployment of O3b mPOWER satellite technology
SES Expands O3b mPOWER Satellite Network, Boosting Global Connectivity
SES, a leading global satellite operator, has successfully launched two new satellites, Jennifer Onyeagoro and E, as part of its second-generation medium Earth orbit (MEO) system, O3b mPOWER. This expansion marks the growth of SES's MEO broadband satellite network, which currently has over ten satellites in orbit.
The O3b mPOWER system, operational since 2024, serves a diverse range of customers worldwide, including mobility, government, enterprise, and cloud entities. Key customers include telco operators, cruise lines, airlines, NATO, the Government of Luxembourg, and the Government of the United States, among others.
The launch strengthens SES's MEO network, adding incremental capacity to scale up services provided by the O3b mPOWER system. The new satellites, scheduled for launch in 2026, will join the eight O3b mPOWER spacecraft already in operation.
The O3b mPOWER satellites enhance global coverage for the system, which is designed to provide high-throughput, low-latency broadband connectivity globally, covering nearly 95% of the world’s population. The full constellation of 12-13 satellites (scheduled for completion by 2026) will deliver multiple terabits per second of data throughput, with SES expecting up to a threefold increase in available capacity by 2027 compared to current levels.
The system offers connectivity with speed and reliability comparable to traditional internet but with global geographic flexibility due to its MEO position. It serves diverse applications including cellular backhaul, international IP trunking, cruise connectivity, disaster recovery, and military communications.
SES's strategy allows for incremental satellite additions to align capacity growth with customer demand efficiently, supporting profitable long-term growth. The satellites use electric xenon thrusters for maneuvering and include recent design fixes implemented starting with the seventh satellite to address earlier electrical issues seen with the first four satellites.
Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES, expressed his pride in the team and partners for pushing boundaries in space to bring critical connectivity. The launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, United States, is another step forward in SES's mission to expand the system to meet growing broadband demand globally while enhancing resilience and performance.
In summary, SES’s O3b mPOWER is an active, growing MEO broadband satellite network with over ten satellites in orbit, delivering flexible, high-capacity global connectivity, with full constellation completion planned for 2026 and capacity roughly tripling by 2027. The services offered by the O3b mPOWER system range from tens of Mbps to multiple gigabits per second of capacity to any site, providing high throughput and predictable low latency. This expansion strengthens SES's position in the global satellite communications industry.
- The newly launched satellites, Jennifer Onyeagoro and E, will join the O3b mPOWER satellite network, a MEO broadband network that serves a diverse range of customers such as cloud entities and government agencies.
- The O3b mPOWER system, designed for high-throughput, low-latency broadband connectivity, currently operates eight satellites and is scheduled to have 12-13 by 2026, which will deliver multiple terabits per second of data throughput, enhancing global coverage.
- SES's O3b mPOWER satellites, relying on electric xenon thrusters for maneuvering, are equipped with recent design fixes to address earlier electrical issues, demonstrating the company's commitment to technology and science advancements in the space-and-astronomy sector.
