Based in the United States, Astranis says they have made a significant breakthrough in delivering satellite internet with Omega, dubbing it the “pound-for-pound the most powerful communications satellite”. Omega is destined for higher geostationary orbits approximately 22,000 miles above the planet. This positioning is notably different from the lower Earth orbits utilized by Starlink satellites, which orbit sixty times closer.
“With Omega, our customers simply get more throughput at lower prices”
Astranis CEO John Gedmark
Space-X’s Starlink may have a serious competitor. Astranis, a prominent player in the satellite communications sector, today unveiled its latest technological marvel, Omega. Designed to deliver over 50Gbps of internet capacity to Earth, Omega represents a leap in satellite technology, offering capabilities that are approximately five times more potent than its predecessors.
Astranis’ journey into satellite communications began with its first-generation satellites, capable of delivering 10Gbps of internet capacity. These initial satellites have already been making a difference, notably in Alaska, where they provide internet speeds of around 25Mbps. While these speeds may not rival the higher bandwidth offerings of Starlink, which boasts download speeds of 200Mbps or more, Omega promises to elevate Astranis’ competitive edge by offering a cost-effective and high-capacity alternative to ISPs, enterprises, and government entities alike.
The innovation behind Omega is powered by a new software-defined radio and in-house designed semiconductors, allowing for the significant boost in capacity. Despite the increase in capability, the satellite’s size has only slightly increased, weighing in at 600 kilograms, compared to the 400 kilograms of its predecessors. This compares favorably against the much larger geostationary satellites like the Jupiter 3 from HughesNet, which tips the scales at over 9,000 kilograms.
“For our commercial customers, Omega will mean unprecedented flexibility and access to advanced capabilities like dynamic shifting of capacity to where broadband internet is in highest demand.
For Astranis’s US government customers, Omega supports the Protected Tactical Waveform and other government waveforms to operate in contested environments. Omega also has a gimballed Q/V band antenna, greatly improving operational flexibility, and can alternatively shift gateway traffic to a Ka-band payload feed when needed.
This is all possible because Omega comes outfitted with a next-generation Astranis software-defined radio, enabling frequency flexibility, dynamic coverage, beam supersurging, formation flying, and more. “
Astranis Website
One of the most striking aspects of the Omega satellite is its production efficiency. Astranis has streamlined its manufacturing process, enabling the launch of up to 12 Omega satellites on a single medium-class rocket. This innovation not only signifies a technological leap but also underscores Astranis’ commitment to providing enhanced internet connectivity with greater flexibility and lower costs.
John Gedmark, Co-founder and CEO of Astranis, emphasized the advantages that Omega will bring to the market. “With Omega, our customers simply get more throughput at lower prices,” Gedmark remarked, highlighting the satellite’s promise to offer unprecedented flexibility and advanced capabilities. These include the dynamic allocation of capacity to meet the varying demands for broadband internet across different regions.
Scheduled for its first flight vehicle in 2025, with launches beginning in 2026, Omega is set to revolutionize the satellite communications landscape. It will support advanced government waveforms for operation in contested environments and feature a gimballed Q/V band antenna for enhanced operational flexibility.
Astranis’ approach to Omega includes significant in-house production, with the aim of constructing approximately 70% of the satellite’s components internally. This strategy, coupled with the recruitment of over 300 top-tier engineers, reflects the company’s dedication to innovation and its urgent mission to connect customers and safeguard warfighters.
Astranis may be a real challenger to existing market dynamics, expanding internet access and capabilities globally and ushering in a new era of satellite communication technology.
