Eutelsat OneWeb’s Satellite Commercial Broadband Services

22 Nov 2023

Context:

  • OneWeb India, a subsidiary of Eutelsat Group, has received authorisation from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to launch its commercial satellite broadband services in India. 
Indian National Space, Promotion & Authorization Centre (INSPACe)

  • Objective:  To act  as a single window nodal agency which will oversee and permit the activities of the private companies into the space sector. 
    • Activities which will be permitted include building of space launch vehicles, satellites and providing other space based services. 
  • Governance: The IN-SPACe will consist of four directorates namely- Technical, Legal, Safety & Security, Monitoring & Promotion- which will carry on the functions and mandate assigned to the organization. 
    • The body will be headed by the Chairman and have technical experts, members from academia/industry and other members from the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of External Affairs.
  • Nodal agency: Department of Space (DOS)
  • Functions:
    • It will also oversee the sharing of the ISRO assets by the private players with due consideration to the present and ongoing projects of the ISRO.
    • It  will also handhold and guide the private players on the issue of technology, promotion and expertise. 

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Network:

  • Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites are located far closer to Earth than GEO satellites. 
  • LEO satellites are generally found within 500-1,500 km. 
  • LEO constellations continuously orbit the planet and are not fixed to one point like GEO satellites.

OneWeb

Geostationary orbit (GEO)

  • Satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO) circle Earth above the equator from west to east following Earth’s rotation – taking 23 hours 56 minutes and 4 seconds – by traveling at exactly the same rate as Earth.
  • This makes satellites in GEO appear to be ‘stationary’ over a fixed position.

The Eutelsat OneWeb: Pioneering Integrated GEO-LEO Satellite Operation

  • The Eutelsat OneWeb group was formed  after the merger between two satellite operators, becoming the first fully integrated GEO-LEO satellite operator with a fleet of 37 geostationary satellites and a LEO constellation of more than 600 satellites placed 1200kms above the earth’s surface.
  • At present, the company is awaiting satellite spectrum allocation from the Government of India. 

Satellite Broadband: High-Speed Connectivity Anywhere with LEO and GEO Satellite

  • It Provides internet network connectivity through LEO or geostationary satellites, ensuring high-speed internet services even in remote areas.
What is Starlink?

  • Starlink is a project by SpaceX, the company founded by Elon Musk, to provide high-speed internet access to anywhere on the planet using a constellation of thousands of satellites. 
  • Aim:  To offer broadband service that is faster, cheaper, and more reliable than existing options, especially in rural and remote areas where connectivity is limited or nonexistent.

How does satellite internet work?

  • Internet service providers send an internet signal to a satellite in space, which then comes back to the users and is captured by their satellite dish. 
  • The dish is connected to the user’s modem, which finally connects their computer to the internet signal. 
  • This process then reverses back to the internet service provider and is repeated every time. 

News  Source: The Hindu

 

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