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Greg Wyler’s E-Space pivots to 116K satellite constellation

E-Space SAS, founded by Greg Wyler, the founder of O3b Networks and OneWeb, has reportedly abandoned its earlier plans to build a 300,000-node micro-satellite constellation per a last year submission with the Rwandan government, instead filing a new system with France’s National Frequencies Agency for a new network dubbed Semaphore-C to the International Telecommunications Union.

According to the filing, Semaphore-C will now feature 116,640 satellites in low earth orbit. The network will feature 810 orbital planes located at 414-kilometre,500km and 600km altitudes and operate in frequencies of 3400MHz, 5725MHz and 7025MHz on the downlink and 4200MHz, 6725MHz and 7075 on the uplink.

E-Space did not issue an official statement of the new plans, which were revealed by SpaceIntelreport and confirmed by CommsDay on the ITU submissions database.

In its latest iteration, the company said it is building “space-powered Internet of Things solutions and services.” As part of a France office HQ launch, the company said it is “actively seeking a satellite production site spanning an approximate 20,000 square meter area, with plans to inaugurate it in 2024. The company envisions a signiicant expansion in its manufacturing operations, aiming to employ over 260 individuals by the year 2025.

With the latest filing, the company appears to be moving ahead with its strategy after initially making headlines with its Rwandan-backed ITU filing.

At the time, the company detailed a network of satellites that can also deorbit space debris, a feature that seems to be in place, although the company has yet to release any information on the capabilities and performance of a group of demonstration satellites it launched in last May.

The company, which has raised some US$50 million in funding, has since also acquired embedded signal processing and radio frequency modules developer CommAgility from Wireless Telecom Group. At the time, E-Space said the deal will help it “accelerate 5G NTN, 5G-Advanced and 6G innovation, speed its satellite payload and customer use case development and continuously advance its space-based connectivity solutions.”

Tony Chan, Commsday