OneWeb, a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications firm, announced today the launch of its newest and smallest user terminal, which will provide high-speed Internet connectivity to businesses, governments, and communities throughout the world and in isolated regions.
The Compact-Electronically Steered Antenna, OW1 user terminal, was developed in collaboration with Intellian Technologies, Inc. and Collins Aerospace. That will play a key role in realizing OneWeb’s vision of bringing high-performance, easily installed, and affordable communications services to the world’s least-connected regions and industrial sectors.
The OneWeb LEO OW1 terminal’s performance, versatility, and low profile make it perfect for delivering OneWeb-powered satellite internet in a variety of environments. The OneWeb LEO flat-panel antenna at the heart of the unit is simple to install. It requires only basic mounting and wiring abilities and is about the size of a suitcase, measuring 50x43x10 cm and weighing around 10 kg.
OneWeb’s Chief of Delivery, Michele Franci, said: “We are extremely happy to bring this user terminal to market, and we appreciate Intellian and Collins for their crucial partnership in making it a reality, OneWeb’s vision of connecting the globe necessitates the right hardware, and we’re excited to be able to provide an affordable, tiny, and simple-to-install user terminal. It will connect and empower communities and small to medium-sized businesses, allowing for a wide range of applications, such as community Wi-Fi in remote areas, rural retail point-of-sale systems, agricultural Internet of Things functions, and internet service in hotels, health clinics, research stations, and other locations where the status quo has left them unconnected.”
OneWeb LEO flat-panel device is comparable to SpaceX’s Starlink dish
The flat-panel antenna will be integrated with a OneWeb satellite modem in an environmentally sealed outdoor unit. Alongside, it can be installed using an optional stabilized J-mount. And will connect to an indoor unit via single combined power and data cable. Which will also provide connectivity to end-user devices such as laptops or routers.
The new gadget comes after OneWeb’s ‘Five to 50’ launch campaign. Which successfully delivered the satellites needed to bring OneWeb services to Canada, the United Kingdom, and Northern Europe later this year. By 2022, OneWeb expects to have deployed its whole fleet of satellites.
While the president and CEO of Intellian Technologies Inc, Eric Sung, says: “This deal is another exciting milestone in our fantastic cooperation with OneWeb, bringing another unique Intellian user terminal to meet new markets and requirements with a high bandwidth and low latency user experience,”
“The OW1 is our first flat-panel antenna, and it expands our full OneWeb portfolio after years of R&D.”
This user terminal is part of our continued aim of ‘Empowering Connectivity,’ allowing customers in remote and difficult locations. Also, to receive a cost-effective and enhanced user experience that would otherwise be unavailable to them.
The Intellian OW1 with OneWeb’s LEO service can help businesses grow, educate students, and facilitate the delivery of crucial services in communities around the world.”
OneWeb, headquartered in London, is a worldwide communications network powered by space that enables connectivity for governments, businesses, and communities.
It is deploying a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites, as well as a network of global gateway stations and a variety of user terminals, to provide an affordable, fast, high-bandwidth, and low-latency communications service for everyone, everywhere, connected to the IoT future and a path to 5G.