Private company

O3b Networks, Ltd.

O3b Networks Ltd. was a network communications service provider building and operating a medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite constellation primarily intended to provide voice and data communications.1

Last updated Oct 18, 2026.

Overview

2007Founded1
  • Industrytelecommunications1
  • HeadquartersSaint John1

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O3b Networks Ltd. was a network communications service provider building and operating a medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite constellation primarily intended to provide voice and data communications to mobile operators and Internet service providers. O3b Networks became a wholly owned subsidiary of SES in 2016 and the operator name was subsequently dropped in favour of SES Networks, a division of SES. The satellites themselves, now part of the SES fleet, continue to use the O3b name.2

How it started

History

Operators in the Cook Islands, Pakistan and Nigeria were among the first to prebook capacity on the O3b constellation to serve their respective markets.

O3b also announced the selection of Europe Media Port (EMP) the world's fastest-growing teleport in 2009 according to the World Teleport Association – to be the first provider of Gateway Teleport services for O3b's global network. O3b also announced a contract with Viasat for the production and installation of Ka-band infrastructure indicating significant progress in the deployment of O3b's Next Generation Network. The value of the Viasat contract is approximately US$47 million.

In 2011, once financial closure had been obtained, Mark Rigolle, former Chief Finance Officer of SES and O3b CEO since 2010, returned to SES. In his place, Steve Collar joined from SES World Skies where he had served as Senior Vice President of Business and Market Development and was formerly an O3b board member representing SES' interests. This change marks the 5th CEO for O3b in three years.

O3b has attracted investment interest with SES joining Google, Liberty Global, HSBC and North Bridge Venture Partners to the US$465 million buyer credit facility the company secured from Coface, the export credit agency acting on behalf of the French government.

O3b has also recently raised a total of US$1.2 billion to fully finance the construction of its satellites.

From Wikipedia’s article on O3b Networks, Ltd., shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2

Leadership

Who has led O3b Networks, Ltd., and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Timeline

  1. 2016Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 2007Founded Founded1

Sources

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  2. 2