Designed with Boeing’s fully software-defined payload technology, the new satellites can dynamically allocate power and bandwidth to meet shifting user demand. “The O3b mPOWER spacecraft are the most capable and flexible commercial satellites to ever operate in space,” said Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing Space Mission Systems.
The O3b mPOWER system, SES’s second-generation constellation positioned around 8,000 kilometres above Earth, aims to deliver terabit-level capacity, low latency, and reliable service across various industries. These two new spacecraft will join the eight already in orbit, strengthening SES’s global connectivity capabilities.
“Our software-defined payload technology allows SES to deliver high-speed, reliable connectivity, adapting in real-time to user demand,” added Parker. “It’s a game changer, and the first eight satellites are showing users just how incredible this technology is.”
Boeing teams are now collaborating with SES to finalise preparations for the launch, while continuing work on three additional O3b mPOWER satellites. This ongoing production supports SES’s broader deployment plans for the constellation.
Parker also highlighted the success of the existing satellites, saying: “We’re very pleased to see just how well our first-of-its-kind technology is performing in space, as we continue to iterate and evolve it for other customers and missions.”
The technology featured on the O3b mPOWER satellites is also being adapted for defence applications, including the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)-11 and WGS-12 satellites being built for the United States Space Force. Boeing’s software-defined payloads offer enhanced security and connectivity even in contested environments.
