[Satellite TODAY 12-21-11] Canadian essential information solutions provider MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates  (MDA) will provide additional advanced technology to support the communication satellite network of its partner O3b, the company announced Dec. 20.

            MDA said it received an amendment to a contract originally announced in January 2010 from Thales Alenia Space to provide a number of advanced technology solutions. The amendment is reportedly worth more than $9 million.

The solutions will be used for 12 Medium Earth Orbit communication satellites that are being designed and manufactured for O3b Limited.

             O3b aims to build a global Internet backbone for telecommunication companies and Internet service providers delivering simultaneous data transmission and reception to areas not connected by fiber networks. The operator’s key markets include Africa, Asia, Oceania and South and Central America.