Kongsberg NanoAvionics (NanoAvionics) has received an order for three further satellites from 5G telecoms operator OQ Technology, which will be added to the existing constellation.
The three 6U nanosatellites, Tiger-4, Tiger-7 and Tiger-8, will be built at NanoAvionics’s new MAIT (manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing) facility in Vilnius, Lithuania.
It is NanoAvionics’s fourth contract with OQ Technology, having previously supplied Tiger-2, Tiger-3, and MACSAT missions. Through the collaboration with NanoAvionics, OQ was able to launch the world’s first commercial nanosatellite, Tiger-2 in 2021, which provided 5G coverage for IoT devices based on NB-IoT and the first expansion of their services with Tiger-3 in 2022.
OQ Technology will provide the 5G payload which is based on standard 3GPP Rel. 17 technology, the OQ in-house developed cell tower stack and will take care of launch, satellite operations, spectrum licensing, service and market access.
As a standard requirement for constellations, the nanosatellites will be equipped with a propulsion system for constellation deployment, formation flying and deorbiting after the end of their lifecycle.
Speaking about the contract, Omar Qaise, founder and CEO of OQ Technology said: “These three nanosatellites will allow us to grow our constellation, expand our global coverage, and enter new markets. In addition to pioneering the 5G NB-IoT technology, it is through partners like NanoAvionics that we are years ahead of the competition in the 5G IoT non-terrestrial networks market.”
Vytenis J. Buzas, founder and CEO of NanoAvionics, added: “This latest contract is a testament to the great working relationship we have built with OQ Technology over the last few years. Our level of standardisation, automation, and experience with communications mission permits us to supply customers like OQ technology in an efficient manner.”
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