Bharti backed OneWeb has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Ghalam LLP to collaborate on opportunities for the local production of components for the second generation of OneWeb satellites in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The LOI comes as OneWeb takes additional steps to deepen its commitment to Kazakhstan and the broader Central Asia market.
OneWeb and Ghalam signed the LOI during the annual international technologies forum “Digital Bridge 2021”, held on October 28 – 29, 2021.
Within the framework of the Forum, OneWeb demonstrated its network, the first-ever demonstration of LEO-powered broadband within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
The demonstration tests were carried out by OneWeb Kazakhstan Limited, OneWeb’s local entity, which is registered at the Astana International Financial Center, with the support of the Republican Centre for Space Communication JSC and Jusan Mobile JSC. The demonstration equipment has been installed on the territory of the National Space Centre of the Republic of Kazakhstan and is accompanied locally by JSC ‘Kazakhstan Garysh Sapary’.
OneWeb plans to hold service demonstrations to prospective distribution partners and enterprise clients at its B2B Demo Zone at AIFC Tech Hub in Nur-Sultan. Such demonstrations will continue until completion of the construction of its Central Asian technology hub. Upon completion, OneWeb will partner with telecom operators in Kazakhstan, providing broadband Internet access to government and business structures, as well as to remote rural communities across the country.
Commenting on the collaboration, Neil Masterson, CEO, OneWeb, said, “We are thrilled to be working with the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan, Astana International Financial Centre and local partners to demonstrate the transformational connectivity OneWeb is poised to bring to Kazakhstan. As part of our global vision to connect the world to high-performance, low-latency satellite connectivity, OneWeb is excited to take part in the implementation of Kazakhstan’s 4th national project to enable digitalization and technological breakthroughs.”
