{"id":17579,"date":"2021-03-23T21:56:33","date_gmt":"2021-03-23T13:56:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/kymeta-and-kepler-team-up-to-demonstrate-satellite-connectivity-in-arctic-deep-freeze\/"},"modified":"2021-03-23T21:56:33","modified_gmt":"2021-03-23T13:56:33","slug":"kymeta-and-kepler-team-up-to-demonstrate-satellite-connectivity-in-arctic-deep-freeze","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/kymeta-and-kepler-team-up-to-demonstrate-satellite-connectivity-in-arctic-deep-freeze\/","title":{"rendered":"Kymeta and Kepler team up to demonstrate satellite connectivity in Arctic deep freeze"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kymeta\u2019s u8 terminal has its flat-panel antenna turned to the sky in the Canadian Arctic town of Inuvik. (Business Wire Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kymeta Corp. \u2014 the hybrid connectivity venture that\u2019s based in Redmond, Wash. \u2014 says it has demonstrated how its flat-panel antenna can hook up with Kepler Communications\u2019 satellite constellation for high-speed data transfers under the chilliest of circumstances.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the latest team-up between Kymeta, which counts Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates among its backers; and Kepler, a Canadian space startup that graduated from the Techstars Seattle incubator program back in 2016.<\/p>\n

Kepler is one of several companies that are putting satellites into low Earth orbit, or LEO \u2014 a group that also includes SpaceX and OneWeb, plus Amazon\u2019s yet-to-be-launched Project Kuiper constellation.<\/p>\n

Those other companies are focusing on consumer and enterprise internet access. In contrast, Kepler is concentrating on satellite-based, high-capacity networking for smart devices that make use of the Internet of Things. One of its leading products is called the Global Data Service.<\/p>\n

Over the past winter, Kepler put Kymeta\u2019s next-generation u8 satellite-cellular data service to the test in the Canadian Arctic community of Inuvik, where temperatures can drop to tens of degrees below zero Fahrenheit.<\/p>\n

Today the two companies announced that the cold-weather test was a success. Uplink and downlink speeds averaged 100 megabits per second (Mbps), allowing for the transfer of more than 2 gigabytes of data with each satellite pass.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe performance of the Kymeta u8 with Kepler\u2019s Global Data Service has exceeded our expectations.\u201d Wen Cheng Chong, Kepler\u2019s chief technology officer and co-founder, said in a news release.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur recent testing and development efforts demonstrated not only the ability to move many more gigabytes of data than expected with each pass, but also the u8\u2019s ability to operate in polar environments, where many of Kepler\u2019s early adopters operate,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Chong said satellite constellations in low Earth orbit \u201cneed antennas that can track the satellite across the sky and \u2018switch\u2019 to other satellites in the constellation near-instantaneously, which Kymeta is among the first to have successfully achieved.\u201d<\/p>\n

David Harrover, Kymeta\u2019s senior vice president of global sales, said the test will help his company set a course for future collaborations with multiple satellite mega-constellations. \u201cMany of our customers are interested in compatibility with LEO satellite services, and this testing helps ensure the longevity of the u8 and Kymeta Connect as well as offer a solution that takes advantage of the increased utility of LEO satellites,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n