Internationella teleunionen förlänger regulatorisk tidsfrist avseende banposition för Ovzon 3
(Pressmeddelande från Ovzon 2023-03-28)

Styrelsen för regulatoriska frågor, Radio Regulations Board (RRB), inom den Internationella teleunionen (ITU) har den 27 mars 2023 godkänt en förlängning av Ovzons regulatoriska tidsfrist för användandet av spektrumet, Bring Into Use (BIU), för banpositionen 59,7° öst. Banpositionen avses användas för satelliten Ovzon 3.

RRB har förlängt BIU-tidsgränsen till den 31 december 2023, vilket gör det möjligt för Ovzon att fortsätta planeringen för placering av satelliten Ovzon 3 i banpositionen 59,7° öst. Förlängningen behövs givet den tidigare tillkännagivna (3 februari 2023) nya tidsplanen för uppskjutningen av Ovzon 3 och stödjer en uppskjutning i den första delen av det nuvarande tidsfönstret juli – september 2023. En uppskjutning som sker sent i det uppskjutningsfönstret kan kräva ytterligare godkännanden från RRB. Ovzon arbetar aktivt och kontinuerligt med satellittillverkaren (Maxar) och uppskjutningsleverantören (SpaceX) för att färdigställa och lansera satelliten.

Since its foundation, Ovzon’s goal has always been to send up its own satellites in order to fully leverage the company’s unique technology. Now that goal is close, in 2019 funding was secured for manufacturing and launch of the first satellite and in conjunction with that, the manufacturing was started in partnership with Maxar.

The launch of this first satellite, Ovzon 3, is planned for the second half of 2021 – perhaps the most important goal to date in the company’s history. Ovzon 3 will make higher data speeds and new services possible. Ovzon’s current communication service runs on leased capacity on other operators’ satellites. Using the company’s unique technology for both communication and terminals – which send and receive signals – the company already has an offering that yields significantly faster data transfer than its competitors. The future proprietary satellite entails a number of advantages for Ovzon’s customers.

Advantages of a proprietary satellite:
Leased satellite: 
Control over coverage and networks by owner.
Broadband: Up to 10 Mbps /40 Mbps (up/down)
Mobility: T5 terminal, laptop size
Owned satellite:
Control over coverage and networks by Ovzon
Broadband: Up to 80 Mbps /100 Mbps (up/down)
Mobility: 3.5” terminal
New functionality: Single hop (small-to-small) routing traffic

From blueprint to high-tech satellite in orbit:

The manufacture of Ovzon’s first proprietary satellite, Ovzon 3, commenced in the summer of 2019. Manufacturing a new – and for Ovzon, customized – satellite requires meticulous preparations. The work in partnership with Maxar and Arianespace – two highly experienced partners in manufacturing and launches – is progressing according to plan and can be divided into a few phases:

1. Planning, design and sourcing
Even though Ovzon has been working on the design of Ovzon 3 for several years, the work gained momentum in the summer of 2019, as did planning for the entire process. At the same time, Maxar also began sourcing components for the satellite and manufacturing subsystems. This initial phase was concluded in January and February 2020 with a preliminary design review (PDR). It was thereby established together with the company’s partner, Maxar, that the main design met all of Ovzon’s requirements.

2. Detailed design
The design in detail of all the subsystems and components is specified in this phase. Subsystem assembly and installation also commences. In addition, qualification tests are performed on subsystems and units. This phase also includes a critical design review (CDR), which began in Q1 2020 with a CDR at the subsystem level and will conclude in the summer of 2020 with a CDR at the system level.

3. Manufacture, testing and verification
Final manufacture and assembly of all satellite parts will take place at Maxar in Palo Alto, California. Components and parts will be delivered from around the world including Sweden, where several important units are being developed. The final testing of functionality, assembly and quality will take place at Maxar, which will also verify that the satellite meets all the specified requirements. At the end of the period, a pre-shipment review (PSR) will be conducted.

4. Launch of the satellite
After the PSR, the satellite will be sent to the satellite launch facility in French Guiana in South America, south of the Caribbean archipelago. Considering the size of the satellite, the transportation itself is complicated. The launch site is ideal since the satellite will be transported to an orbit over the equator. The launch is scheduled for the second half of 2021. The satellite will be sent upon an Arianespace 5 rocket and released at an altitude of 250 kilometres. The satellites’ journey to its determined orbital position begins from there. It will take several months for Ovzon 3 to move into position. The journey itself will be unique. The satellite will manoeuvre with the help of a rocket engine that uses a process called electrically powered propulsion, in which an ionized gas is expelled from the engine and gives rise to adjustable propulsion. The electrically powered propulsion method is extremely efficient for its weight, which gives the satellite a long service life and the excellent overall economy.