OneWeb has resumed conversations about potential interference from its planned megaconstellation after talks stalled out three years ago, according to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), which operates radio telescopes in the United States and its territories. The observatory raised the issue with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, saying OneWeb shouldn’t be talking about starting operations because the company had not met a commission rule that it first coordinate spectrum it wants to use that is adjacent to where astronomers do research. “The particular issue with OneWeb and their current plan is they need an operating agreement which they didn’t seek,” Tony Beasley, director of NRAO, told SpaceNews in an interview.
Beasley said that SpaceX, while a concern to optical astronomers, has not been a source of worry for radio astronomers. “SpaceX set an excellent example on being responsible and trying to listen and deal with the issues that have come up,” said Beasley. “Full marks to them.”
<Wyler's tweet>
London September 4, 2019 – OneWeb, whose goal is to connect everyone everywhere, today announced the details of its Arctic high-speed, low-latency internet service. OneWeb will deliver 375 Gbps of capacity above the 60th parallel North. With service starting in 2020, there will be enough capacity to give fiber-like connectivity to hundreds of thousands of homes, planes, and boats, connecting millions across the Arctic.
Preparing the ground at one of our European satellite network portal sites, which will eventually house 15 antennas
Intelsat alleges fraud at OneWeb/SoftBankA potentially devastating dispute has broken out between two former “cooperation” joint-venture partners: Intelsat has filed a lawsuit against OneWeb and its financial backer Japan’s SoftBank.The writ alleges that the OneWeb and SoftBank conspired together in stealing confidential information, because – the writ states – SoftBank no longer believed in the OneWeb project and was seeking to protect its previous investment in OneWeb,>
>Intelsat’s 2015 investment in OneWeb was contingent upon a commercial agreement giving Intelsat customers access to OneWeb communications services, according to the complaint. The companies signed an agreement in late 2015 that made Intelsat the “sole and exclusive worldwide and regional distributor” of OneWeb communications services to customers in four markets: aviation, maritime, oil and gas, and the U.S. government, the complaint added.>In 2016, SoftBank invested nearly $1 billion in OneWeb, acquiring a 40 percent stake in the company, according to the complaint. Then, “in willful breach” of OneWeb’s agreement with Intelsat, OneWeb agreed to let SoftBank purchase 100 percent of its future satellite capacity and appointed SoftBank as its exclusive global distributor of communications services>
Would be interested in seeing the complaint.
I thought this was interesting."The companies signed an agreement in late 2015 that made Intelsat the “sole and exclusive worldwide and regional distributor” of OneWeb communications services to customers in four markets: aviation, maritime, oil and gas, and the U.S. government, the complaint added."Seems like a bargain for only a $25M investment, since that is likely where most of the money will initially be made, like with Iridium. Softbank later invested $1B and was given all the distribution rights! This might end up with Softbank simply paying Intelsat off, to get them off their backs. Not sure how many multiples of that $25M its going to cost, but I would guess at least two.
Couple that with the fact the CEO seem to be in meltdown mode part-time already and I'm not so hopeful anymore.
(1) The original business plan called for total constellation cost of $4.5 billion (I assume this includes ground segment). At 900 satellites originally planned, that's $5 million all-in per satellite. That strikes me as extremely expensive for the intended purpose.
Quote from: niwax on 09/20/2019 07:56 amCouple that with the fact the CEO seem to be in meltdown mode part-time already and I'm not so hopeful anymore.What is Steckel doing that you would consider "meltdown mode"?
