OneWeb Network in a Box concept

As we look forward to DSEI, OneWeb continues to respond to the operational requirements of Governments around the World.

One such example includes OneWeb’s Network in a Box (NIB) technology demonstrator which has been designed to provide our customers with rapid and easy access to our global constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.

Created in collaboration with our strategic partner Intellian, OneWeb’s NIB is packaged into a single, protective case which measures 21” x 17” and weighs just 10kg, providing end users with maximum levels in mobility.

The NIB has been designed as a rapidly deployable solution to support the connectivity requirements of small teams operating in austere and disadvantaged areas of the World.

Featuring our proprietary Compact-ESA and CNX Router, Internal Power Solution and Ethernet Connection, the NIB will begin customer demonstrations in the first half of 2022.

In just a matter of minutes, an end user can open the NIB case, power up the Compact ESA and CNX Router and watch as it automatically acquires an overhead Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite to provide fast, reliable and secure communications anywhere in the World and at anytime.

The Compact-ESA, which combines a high-performance satellite antenna and modem, represents the world’s smallest Low Earth Orbit (LEO) flat panel user terminal.

The CNX connects the user terminal to end user devices such as laptops or routers and provides power and user data to the outdoor unit. Importantly, no advanced training is required to install or operate the NIB.

OneWeb is looking to offer service with antenna specialist Kymeta to provide communications-on-the-move for ground vehicles. Already capable of communicating with GEO-satellites, Kymeta’s u8 antenna is LEO-upgradeable in anticipation of Ku-band satellite connectivity.

The NIB is particularly applicable to Humanitarian Aid/Disaster Relief and Peacekeeping Support missions where end users might be unable to rely upon fixed communications infrastructure of the host country.

To support these types of expeditionary operations, the NIB has its own power source meaning it can be operated for up to several hours at a time without being plugged into any external power source.

To date, OneWeb’s NIB has demonstrated data throughput up to 78Mbps with latency levels averaging between 50 and 70ms. In places, latency has been reduced to as little as 30ms.

The NIB has also been designed as a more cost effective solution for Government customers who might otherwise be operating more expensive Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) solutions.

OneWeb’s NIB solution will be cheap enough for customers to potentially discard them should they become damaged on operations instead of spending unnecessary funds to repatriate antennae for repair.

In the near future, OneWeb plans to design manpack and vehicular variants of the NIB, providing on-the-move connectivity for mounted and dismounted teams respectively.

Finally, Government customers will also be able to benefit from OneWeb’s flexible service plans. This means customers operating the NIB will be able to run a lower cost service plan for training purposes at home (perhaps offering lower levels in bandwidth) before switching to a more robust service plan to support real-time operations around the World.

We look forward to showcasing the NIB’s capabilities to our Government customers at DSEI between 14-17 September.