HONG KONG, 12 September 2024
PCCW Global, a leading international telecommunications service provider, and GalaxySpace, a private Chinese commercial space company, are exploring a new collaboration to provide low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite services to international markets, with an initial focus on Hong Kong and countries along the Belt and Road.
During today’s Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong, the companies signed a memorandum of understanding for PCCW Global to expand its satellite offerings by leveraging GalaxySpace’s LEO satellite solutions and GalaxySpace to broaden its international market reach through PCCW Global’s extensive network.
Through the collaboration, the companies will be able to deliver high-speed connectivity services via LEO satellites to consumers as well as enterprise and government customers in remote areas. With a 90% reduction in latency as compared to traditional geostationary/geosynchronise orbit (GEO/GSO) satellite services, LEO satellites enable new applications for maritime, aero, IoT, drones and other markets. Mobile network service providers will be able to expand their coverage to the most remote corners with LEO satellites’ direct-to-cell technologies, allowing users to utilise voice, SMS and broadband services with off-the-shelf mobile phones or smart devices accessing the satellites directly.
Frederick Chui, Co-CEO, PCCW Global, said, “This collaboration combines fixed network and next-generation satellite technologies to deliver more flexible connectivity solutions. By integrating GalaxySpace’s cutting-edge LEO satellite technologies with our platforms, we are enhancing our capabilities to support new applications, which require high speed, low latency and ubiquitous satellite connectivity. This allows international markets and our global customers to effortlessly enjoy telecommunication services at anywhere with satellite access.”
PCCW Global’s extensive network supports a wide portfolio of international voice and data solutions, cost-effective value-added managed services and a range of network monitoring services. With an extensive and resilient network infrastructure across the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, PCCW Global currently meets the international connectivity needs of enterprise and wholesale customers in more than 3,000 cities. PCCW Global owns one of the largest fully meshed IP backbone networks in the Asia-Pacific region, reaching more than 400 cities with MPLS VPN.
Isabel Liu, Co-founder and Vice President, GalaxySpace, said, “We are pleased to collaborate with PCCW Global to promote the integrated development of LEO and existing networks. GalaxySpace has established itself as the country’s satellite technology leader. We have become the first to enable international LEO QV-band communication, successfully launched China’s first flat-panel stackable satellite with flexible solar cell wings, completed the first batch-produced LEO broadband communication satellites, and built ‘Mini Spider’, China’s first LEO broadband communication test constellation. We were also the first in China to complete multiple LEO broadband satellite Internet application validations, leading the way in the overseas expansion of China’s satellite Internet companies. Looking ahead, we are accelerating direct-to-sell satellite research and technical verification. Commercial aerospace is one of China’s key strategic emerging industries, ushering in new opportunities for development. Hong Kong has the major geographical advantage of enjoying the strong support of the country while being closely connected to the world. Working with PCCW Global, we are starting off in Hong Kong and will continue to expand our services and partnerships in Belt and Road countries. By instilling momentum in new quality productivity, we shall accelerate the development of the Belt and Road corridor for spatial information together.”
Photo: Frederick Chui, Co-CEO, PCCW Global (right) and Peter Huang, GM, International Business Development, GalaxySpace (left) signed a memorandum of understanding during the Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong.
