This strategic collaboration brings together a network of medium Earth orbit satellites (MEO) from SES (a satellite communications provider headquartered in Luxembourg) with advanced communication technologies and flat terminals from Sharp Corporation (Japan). The partnership is designed to solve the problem of "blind spots" in mountainous areas and at sea, where terrestrial networks are absent or unstable.
The companies begin joint work on the commercial launch of next-generation satellite services from SES in the domestic market of Japan. SES provides a high-bandwidth, low-latency network, а Sharp – innovative user terminals and communication systems.
Joint activities cover the full cycle — from the supply of equipment to the direct construction of the network infrastructure and its subsequent operation. SES satellites operate at an altitude of approx 8 000 km and have two important advantages over other orbits. Compared with geostationary (GEO, ~36 000 km) SES satellites provide significantly lower data transmission latency, which is critical for modern digital services. Compared to low (LEO, to 2 000 km) SES satellites require fewer vehicles to consistently cover large areas, guaranteeing reliable communication without constant switching between satellites.
Instead of bulky parabolic dishes, Sharp integrates lightweight ones, thin and mobile flat panels with built-in modems. They are ideal for quick installation on moving objects. The creation of these terminals is financed by a grant from the National Institute of Information and Communication Technologies of Japan (NICT).
The equipment is developed for the needs of shipping (marine science), civil aviation, industrial facilities in remote regions, and also as a backup communication in case of natural disasters.
Source: https://spacemedia.jp