NOTE: This story originally appeared in the Low Down, our free weekly ebrief. Subscribe to receive our take on the latest news, enabling tech and emerging markets in the commercial space sector.
Low Earth orbit broadband operator LeoSat Enterprises has secured over $1 billion in pre-launch commercial contracts. In a news release, the company said the contracts are for services spanning data and mobility sectors, with customers in finance, telecommunications, enterprise and government sectors.
LeoSat CEO Mark Rigolle said the contracts “clearly demonstrate LeoSat’s progression from a new networking concept to a unique solution which not only resonates with our customers but has also attracted the firm backing of two leading satellite companies,” referring to LeoSat investors SKY Perfect JSAT and Hispasat.
RELATED: LEO broadband gains telecom backers amid fears of disruption
LeoSat aims to launch a constellation of 108 laser-linked satellites into low Earth orbit to provide ultra-high throughput, low latency connectivity services to a range of customers. LeoSat says it’ll deliver gigabit-per-second speeds on its network.
LeoSat highlighted big data and cybersecurity as two important driving forces in rising demand for new communications infrastructure. “Global networks are already carrying more than 1 Zeta Byte of traffic and this is forecast to grow exponentially,” the company said. “This is having a lasting effect on the satellite communications industry, with the need to invest in and deploy resilient and future-proof networks to deliver connectivity and services.”
LeoSat’s first wave of satellites is slated to launch in 2021. The company is building its ground system with Phasor Solutions, which develops electronically-steered antenna (ESA) systems. Phasor is reportedly developing a Non-Geosynchronous (NGSO) version of its ESA systems that’ll operate over Ka-band spectrum.
“Phasor’s LEO-capable antenna technology will enable corporations, governments and other high-end users to access a network offering speeds about 1.5 times faster than terrestrial fiber in combination with high-throughput, ultra-security and very low latency,” Phasor said in a statement.
RELATED: LEO satellite broadband will be disruptive, if successful
