OneWeb Asks FCC for Permission to Access US Market

Federal Communications Commission. Photo: FCC

[Via Satellite 04-29-2016] OneWeb has filed an application with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requesting access to the U.S. market for its planned Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite system. The company’s constellation is anticipated to make broadband connectivity available in unserved or underserved regions today, and when fully deployed, to support services including cellular backhaul, mobility services, community and residential Internet access, and emergency communications in the U.S. and globally.

OneWeb says its application demonstrates that its system will comply with both the commission’s rules and the International Telecommunication Union‘s (ITU) requirements for highly spectrum-efficient sharing of the Ku-band and Ka-band with geostationary satellites. Its progressive pitch technology is designed to modify the orientation and power level of the OneWeb satellites as they pass over the equator, thus enabling sharing with geostationary satellite operators.

OneWeb’s planned constellation consists of 648 satellites orbiting at an altitude of 1,200 km, enabling low latency Internet access that is comparable with terrestrial solutions. With partners, the company is building Ku-band user terminals, and a small number of globally distributed Ka-band gateway antennas, designed to be low-cost and easy to install.