SAS steps up Efforts to bring Nano-Satellite-based Communications

UK-based company Sky and Space Global Ltd, which works to provide affordable communications to the world's equatorial regions, is stepping up its efforts to bring nano-satellite based communications to the Caribbean.

In order to target the Caribbean, SAS is holding discussions with the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) about the use of its novel nano-satellite technology, following a successful demonstration of the company’s 3 Diamonds telecommunications network.

The demonstration of the narrowband network’s capabilities on July 12 took place at the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) conference held in Georgetown, Guyana. The presentation team also attended a tour of rural Guyana where the SAS technology is most needed to ensure a prosperous economy.

Nano-satellite narrowband services to the Caribbean region will be provided by SAS' Pearls constellation once deployment commences in 2019. This supports the SAS business model of providing connectivity to equatorial locations such as the Caribbean, where these services are required.

In 2017, SAS successfully launched its ‘3 Diamonds’ nano-satellites as a proof of concept. The timetable calls for launching a constellation of 200 nano-satellites beginning next year with full scale deployment by 2020.

SAS is also working with officials in various other countries in South East Asia, Africa and Latin America, to bring affordable communications to Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime.

Guyana, where the demonstration took place, typifies the overall market SAS is focusing on more than 2 billion people worldwide that reside in the equatorial belt in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Cellular penetration is growing rapidly in these regions, but a lack of infrastructure severely limits services available to the local populations.