Application Narrative

1302-EX-ST-2015 Text Documents

O3b Limited

2015-12-11ELS_170383

                                             O3b Networks
    Application for Experimental License to Operate Earth Stations Manufactured by Orbit on Board a
                                             Maritime Vessel

                                              Narrative Statement

(1) Name, address, phone number (also e‐mail address and facsimile number, if available) of the
applicant.

Name: Suzanne Malloy
O3b Limited
900 17th Street NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202‐813‐4026
Mobile: 202‐368‐9045
E‐mail: Suzanne.malloy@o3bnetworks.com

(2) Description of why an experimental license is needed

O3b is a satellite startup with a unique non‐geostationary satellite system1 that orbits the earth in a
medium earth orbit 8,062 km above the earth. The system uses high powered spot beams to transmit
between earth station terminals and O3b’s satellites. Because O3b’s system architecture differs from
that of other satellite operators, O3b and potential customers are in the process of determining which
applications the system may be able to support.

One of O3b’s current maritime customers is interested in using multiple stationary O3b spot beams to
provide seamless connectivity to several ships operating within the Caribbean region. The benefit of this
concept of operations is that the customer would be able to provide service to more ships with fewer
beams by using the available bandwidth more efficiently. O3b and its customer need to test this service
scheme prior to putting it into commercial operation. O3b seeks temporary experimental authority to
test how its maritime terminals operate under this arrangement and to identify and troubleshoot any
issues that may arise.

(3) Description of the operation to be conducted and its purpose

O3b will install its maritime antennas on board one of its customer’s vessels. The ship will disembark and
proceed along its normal commercial route. As the ship moves along its itinerary, it will enter and exit
O3b spots beams that are already deployed along the route. O3b and its customer will evaluate how the
O3b maritime terminals respond to this new service delivery method and troubleshoot any
complications that may arise.




1
 The FCC has granted market access to the O3b 12 satellite constellation. See O3b Limited, Call Sign S2935, File No.
SAT‐LOI‐20141029‐00118 (granted Jan. 22, 2015).

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(4) Time and dates of proposed operation

O3b requests temporary authority for 6 months, from February 1, 2015 to August 1, 2016. O3b will
notify ViaSat, Inc., Hughes/EchoStar, Inmarsat, SES and any other U.S. authorized co‐channel Ka‐band
satellite operators at least one week prior to any transmit testing, and provide emergency contact
information. In the event that there is harmful interference, O3b will immediately cease transmissions.
In addition, when the earth stations will transmit in spectrum bands shared with terrestrial operators,
O3b will complete frequency coordination prior to testing.

(5) Class(es) of station (fixed, mobile, fixed and mobile) and call sign of station (if applicable).

The transmitting stations will operate in fixed mode.

(6) Description of the location(s) and, if applicable, geographical coordinates of the proposed
operation.

The ship’s itinerary during the testing will include visits to a port in Galveston Texas, as well as stops at a
number of Caribbean islands, travelling as far east as Jamaica, and as far south as Roatan, Honduras.
Please see below for a graphical representation of the area of operation.




(7) Transmit equipment to be used, including name of manufacturer, model and number of units.

Orbit AL‐7107‐Ka 2.2 meter, 5 units

Please note that each earth station terminal unit will include two (2) active technically identical
antennas and one inactive spare.

(8) Frequencies desired.

Transmit:
27.6 – 28.4 GHz
28.6 – 29.1 GHz

Receive:
17.8 – 18.6 GHz
18.8 – 19.3 GHz



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(9) Maximum effective radiated power (ERP) or equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP).

The maximum transmitted ERP will be:
Orbit 2.2m                  69.5 dBW

For all operations, O3b will comply with the radiofrequency radiation exposure limits in 47 C.F.R. 1.1310
and apply the measures recommended in the FCC’s OET Bulletin 65 to ensure compliance.

(10) Emission designator (see §2.201 of this chapter) or describe emission (bandwidth, modulation,
etc.)

1M00G7D to 216MG7D

(11) Overall height of antenna of antenna structure above the ground (if greater than 6 meters above
the ground or an existing structure, see part 17 of this Chapter concerning notification to the FAA).

The overall height of the antennas above existing structures will not exceed 6 meters.




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Exhibit 1: Directional Antenna Information

                             Orbit 2.2m
    Is a directional            Yes
   antenna (other
 than radar) used?
 Width of the beam         0.51° @ 18 GHz
  in degrees at the        0.33° @ 28 GHz
  half power point
    Orientation in         TX = RHCP/LHCP
   horizontal plane        RX = RHCP/LHCP
       (degrees)
    Orientation in         TX = RHCP/LHCP
     vertical plane        RX = RHCP/LHCP
       (degrees)




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Document Created: 2015-12-11 18:17:54
Document Modified: 2015-12-11 18:17:54

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