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O3b Networks, Kymeta partner to develop flat panel antenna

Low-cost antennae, high-speed internet to enable new markets, broadband services
Steve Collar, CEO of O3b Networks

O3b Networks and Kymeta Corporation, the company commercialising software-enabled metamaterials-based electronic beamforming antennae, have announced an agreement to develop flat panel satellite antennae for the O3b network.

The thin, light and low-cost antennae and terminals together with O3b Networks’ high-speed, low-latency internet services are expected to open a wide range of new markets worldwide.

The two companies will jointly develop the satellite tracking antennae and terminals to be optimised for the fast and affordable satellite services that O3b will be offering. The agreement will result in a prototype by the end of 2014, at which point a range of antenna and terminal products with various form factors will be announced by the two companies.

Steve Collar, CEO of O3b Networks, says: “At O3b, we are striving to bring the benefits of affordable, low-latency bandwidth to a growing number of people around the world and to delivering an ever expanding set of applications. Kymeta’s flat, light, low-cost and low-maintenance antennae promise to provide O3b customers an extremely powerful, high-performance solution at a very attractive price. Kymeta antennae will have utility across all our market segments and we are excited to be partnering together to develop this highly innovative and game-changing technology.”

Bob McCambridge, President and COO of Kymeta, adds: “O3b’s network with fibre-like speeds is a natural fit for Kymeta antennae that electronically acquire and track non-geostationary satellites. The O3b network architecture is a perfect fit for Kymeta’s unique technology and capabilities.”