• OneWeb participated in the “Digital Bridge 2021” Forum, Kazakhstan
• OneWeb conducted the very first public demonstration of LEO-based broadband Internet access services in the CIS
• Further demonstrations planned for prospective distribution partners and enterprise clients at its B2B Demo Zone at AIFC Tech Hub in Nur-Sultan
• OneWeb signed Letter of Intent with Ghalam LLP to collaborate on opportunities for the local production of components for the second generation of OneWeb satellites in Kazakhstan

OneWeb, the low Earth orbit satellite communications company, on 28 October 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.

The signing was part of OneWeb’s involvement in the annual international technological forum “Digital Bridge 2021,” that was held in the Kazakh capital on October 28-29. Leading IT professionals and technology entrepreneurs came together to exchange experiences and innovative solutions for digital development. The Forum was organised by the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the support of the Astana Hub and Zerde National Infocommunication Holding JSC.

Within the framework of the Forum, OneWeb’s CEO Neil Masterson oversaw a demonstration of OneWeb’s network — the first-ever demonstration of LEO-powered broadband within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). OneWeb’s demonstration network delivered significant performance in both downlink and uplink peak rates, together with low latency, during demonstrations using video conference calling, content streaming and cloud-based applications. When working with local telcos, OneWeb exercises a customer-centric approach in its service packages tailored to Enterprise, Government and Rural Access. This demonstration set the stage for the formation of a Centre of Expertise for the use of low-orbit satellite communication systems in CIS.

The demonstration tests were carried out by OneWeb Kazakhstan Ltd., 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.

OneWeb CEO Neil Masterson commented: “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.”