Representation of Lockheed Martin 400 series satellite buses, ranging in weight from 400 to 800 kg.
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin’s space division on Tuesday announced a strategic interest agreement with satellite start-up Omnispace, “to explore the joint development of 5G capacity from space.”
“This really comes from a common vision of a global 5G network, which allows users to make a seamless transition between satellite [and the] terrestrial network, ”Ram Viswanathan, CEO of Omnispace, told CNBC.
Viswanathan highlighted Lockheed Martin’s “great experience” in several markets, most notably with a wide range of Defense Department clients.
“Their appetite never fades and the kind of need they have for general communications,” Rick Ambrose, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Space, told CNBC. “Omnispace has a very powerful vision of how to offer the service … [and] how to get to a mobile device “.
Ambrose said the two companies have been interacting for about a year. The strategic interest agreement lays the groundwork for the pair working towards a hybrid network that combines the reach of a global satellite network, known in the industry as a constellation, with the capability of telephone networks. wireless cell phone.
The partnership places companies in the broad field of space-based data communications, with potential competitors, including consumer-focused Starlink broadband service Elon Musk, the satellite specialist. read on AST & Science smartphone and company-focused networks from OneWeb and Telesat. .
Viswanathan acknowledged the other players building constellations of satellite communications with low Earth orbits, but differentiated Omnispace to offer “direct capability to the device,” rather than the “expensive and bulky” ground terminals required. for users to connect to other space-based networks.
“We are able to deliver mobile communications capability to a standardized 5G base terminal or terminal and, as you can imagine, it is starting to open a lot of applications,” Viswanathan said.
Omnispace last month raised a new round of venture capital, with investors led by Fortress Investment Group earning $ 60 million. The Virginia-based company has raised $ 140 million to date since its founding in 2012, according to Pitchbook. Ambrose said it’s “too early to know” whether Lockheed Martin will invest in Omnispace itself, but noted that companies will “explore multiple options” as the partnership expands.
The next step for Omnispace will be to deploy a “test concept” of its technology in space. But while Omnispace has not yet finished designing its complete system, Viswanathan said it will cost “dramatically less than” other satellite communications constellations, which are estimated at $ 5 billion. up to more than $ 10 billion to fully deploy.