Investment

O3b Networks Limited

Sector

Satellite Communications

Location

Global

Deal type

Growth capital

Ownership

Minority

Website

www.o3bnetworks.com

O3b Networks Limited

O3b is a Global Satellite Services Provider with a satellite network combining the reach of satellite with the speed of fiber. O3b became fully financed in November, 2010. Completing its first launch of four satellites with a Soyuz launcher in 2013, followed by two further launches of four satellites in 2014. The network entered commercial service in 2014.

O3b has operational and financial support from its investors, which in addition to Satya Capital include SES, Google, Liberty Global, HSBC Principal Investments, Northbridge Venture Partners, Allen & Company, Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), and Sofina. Moez Daya is Satya Capital’s representative on O3b’s board of directors.

O3b’s Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites orbit at 8,062km above the Earth. From this low altitude, latency is dramatically reduced bringing it on par with a long haul fiber transmission. Operators can now consider satellite technology for applications that are latency sensitive. O3b’s constellation of satellites utilizes multiple spot beams, which significantly increase each satellite’s capacity and decrease the cost of bandwidth.