SES Partners with K2 Space for Innovative MEO Satellite Deployment

SES has announced a strategic partnership with K2 Space for the deployment of a new satellite, marking a significant shift in its approach to medium Earth orbit (MEO) broadband services. The announcement was made on September 16, 2023, during a briefing in Tampa, Florida. This collaboration is set to initiate SES’s innovative concept known as “meoSphere,” which emphasizes modular and software-defined network capabilities.

The meoSphere initiative is designed to enhance SES’s MEO broadband constellation through a more iterative development strategy. This model allows for upgrades and new features to be integrated in response to market demands, rather than relying on large, infrequent updates. According to SES, this approach not only ensures existing services remain uninterrupted but also facilitates a smoother transition to advanced technologies as they become available.

Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES, highlighted the importance of this partnership, stating, “Our future MEO network will evolve through agile innovation cycles.” He emphasized that by collaborating with K2 Space and other innovative partners, SES aims to create a flexible network that adapts to evolving customer requirements.

The company has not disclosed whether it will collaborate with Boeing, which is constructing the final three of the 13 O3b mPower MEO satellites for SES. These satellites are expected to deliver over 10 times the throughput of SES’s initial fleet of 20 MEO satellites. The partnership with K2 Space will extend SES’s development efforts across both Europe and the United States, where K2 is headquartered.

The plan involves launching new MEO satellites annually, directly linking investments and network scaling to customer needs. SES aims to avoid the significant capital expenditure peaks typical of conventional development cycles, thereby providing greater flexibility in satellite deployment.

Enhanced Capabilities and Future Missions

The upcoming meoSphere satellites will enable a range of advanced applications, including real-time connectivity for aircraft, reliable communications for maritime operations, and robust backhaul solutions for remote enterprise sites. Government partners will also benefit from the ability to operate sovereign solutions through in-country gateways.

SES’s constellation is expected to support multi-mission capabilities, such as hosted payloads, space situational awareness, and satellite data relay services. Under a contract with the European Commission for its sovereign IRIS2 multi-orbit broadband network, SES has already committed to developing and operating 18 additional MEO satellites in collaboration with established suppliers, while newer entities like K2 Space will contribute to the network’s evolution.

K2 Space, a startup founded three years ago, raised $110 million in Series B funding earlier this year to expedite the production of its Mega-class satellite buses. These satellites can reportedly be built for under $15 million each, with lead times of less than three months. K2 Space successfully completed its first in-space demonstration mission earlier this year and plans to conduct its inaugural government mission in early 2026 under an agreement with the U.S. Space Force.

In a related development, SES announced a partnership with Cailabs, a French optical ground station developer, to test laser communications technology. This technology could potentially enhance future satellites with faster and more secure data links, further expanding SES’s capabilities in the MEO market.

The collaboration between SES and K2 Space represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of satellite communications, promising to deliver innovative solutions that meet the needs of modern users while ensuring a sustainable and flexible deployment strategy.